First measles death in the US in a decade

Thursday 27 February 2025 - 14:33

The United States has reported its first measles death in ten years after an unvaccinated child succumbed to the disease during an outbreak in Texas. The child, of school age, was hospitalized in Lubbock, northwest Texas, and passed away overnight, according to the state’s health department. This tragic event occurred amid a decline in immunization rates and the controversy surrounding the appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vaccine skeptic, as the country’s top health official.

More than 130 cases of measles have been reported this year in Texas and neighboring New Mexico, with the majority of cases occurring in individuals who were not vaccinated. The outbreak has been particularly concentrated in a Mennonite community, known for its reluctance toward vaccination.

At a Cabinet meeting, Kennedy downplayed the outbreak, stating it was “not unusual” and referencing previous years with multiple measles outbreaks. In 2019, the US experienced a peak of 1,274 cases, but the numbers dropped significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2024, there were 285 reported cases, up from 59 in 2023 and 121 in 2022.

Measles was declared eliminated from the US in 2000, but this status has been threatened by rising anti-vaccine sentiments. The last measles-related death occurred in 2015, following a 12-year period without fatalities. Measles remains particularly dangerous for unvaccinated individuals, including infants who are too young to receive the vaccine. Approximately 20% of unvaccinated individuals who contract measles require hospitalization, and one in 20 children may develop pneumonia.