A child in West Texas has died from measles, marking the first reported US death from the disease in a decade. The outbreak, primarily among children, has spread to New Mexico, infecting over 130 people across two states.
The child, who was not vaccinated against measles, died at Covenant Children’s Hospital in Lubbock. Health officials say more cases are expected as the outbreak continues.
The outbreak started in a rural Mennonite community southwest of Lubbock and has been concentrated among unvaccinated children. At least 124 people were known to be infected in West Texas since early February, with most being unvaccinated.
New Mexico’s health department has warned that additional cases are likely due to measles’ high contagion rate. The US death rate from measles is 1-3 deaths per 1,000 reported cases.
Measles was declared eliminated in the US in 2000, but outbreaks have continued due to unvaccinated populations. In recent years, federal health officials have attributed some outbreaks to parents refusing to vaccinate their children.
The Texas Department of Health Services has reported 18 people hospitalized with the disease. A spokesperson for the agency said there is no indication that any early patients traveled outside the US.
Health experts say the outbreak highlights the risks of anti-vaccination movements and the importance of vaccination programs.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/first-us-measles-death-reported-west-texas-outbreak-affects-more-than-130-people-2025-02-26