A second child has died from measles in Texas, intensifying concerns amid a sharp rise in infections across the state and the country. The confirmation came from UMC Health System in Lubbock, where the child had been receiving treatment for complications related to the illness. According to hospital spokesperson Aaron Davis, the young patient was unvaccinated and had no underlying medical conditions, highlighting the risks associated with declining immunization rates.
“We are heartbroken to confirm the loss of a school-aged child who had been diagnosed with measles,” Davis said in a statement. “This tragedy is a stark reminder of how dangerous the disease can be and reinforces the critical role vaccines play in prevention.” While details surrounding the child’s identity were not released, The New York Times reported the victim was an 8-year-old girl who succumbed to “measles pulmonary failure.”
The latest death has drawn national attention, prompting U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to schedule a visit to Texas, according to Axios. Kennedy, known for his vaccine skepticism, is expected to attend the child's funeral. His previous comments downplaying the severity of measles outbreaks have stirred controversy, particularly in light of this second fatality and the growing number of reported cases nationwide.
Health experts and pediatricians are sounding alarms about the surge in vaccine hesitancy, which they say has led to clusters of unvaccinated or under-vaccinated individuals vulnerable to infection. Critics of vaccines often argue for personal choice, but physicians warn that supplements like vitamin A — often recommended by anti-vaccine advocates — offer no real defense against a disease as contagious and potentially deadly as measles.
Texas health officials reported 59 new measles cases in just three days last week, pushing the state's total to 481 since late January — a 15% increase in a short time span. The outbreak is not isolated to Texas; neighboring states like New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Colorado have also reported infections. Earlier this year, another child in Texas and an unvaccinated adult in New Mexico also died following measles infections.
Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 607 measles cases so far in 2025, marking a steep rise compared to 285 cases during all of 2024. The CDC says that 97% of those infected were either unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status. Health authorities continue to urge parents to vaccinate their children, warning that measles is not only highly infectious but can also lead to serious, sometimes fatal, complications.