Dr. Gilbert Handal, a professor of pediatrics and pediatric infectious diseases at Texas Tech Health in El Paso, is sounding the alarm over the growing measles outbreak in West Texas. The disease, which was declared eliminated in the US at the turn of the century, has infected 717 people and killed two school-aged children as of May 13.
Handal’s experience with measles dates back to 1964 in Chile, where he witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of the disease on children. “We tried to save those kids, but many of them died,” he said. The young doctor was part of a team that cared for dozens of children battling high fevers and painful coughs.
Measles spreads quickly through the air when infected people sneeze or cough, and its impact is particularly harsh on infants and toddlers. Handal remembers one child who died at just five months old due to complications from measles. The emotional toll was immense, and the doctor struggled with the psychological burden of facing death regularly.
According to Handal, most recent outbreaks in the US have been linked to low immunization rates. “People stopped immunizing their kids, and that was an error,” he said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that around 3-4 million people in the US were infected with measles annually before vaccination.
The current outbreak in Texas is alarming Dr. Handal, who believes it’s a warning sign of a world backsliding on vaccination rates. “Measles is an unforgiving disease,” he said. “Every single outbreak that we’ve had has been associated with poor immunization rates.” Handal urges everyone to please immunize, emphasizing the importance of prevention and protecting oneself, others, and vulnerable children who cannot be vaccinated.
Source: https://www.keranews.org/texas-news/2025-05-14/measles-texas-outbreak-vaccine