A second child with measles has died in Texas, a local hospital official confirmed Sunday. Hundreds of cases of the infectious disease have been reported in recent weeks.
The events prompted US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to travel to the state, the press reported on Sunday.
“We are sad to report that a school-aged child who was recently diagnosed with measles has died. He was being treated for complications from measles while hospitalized,” Aaron Davis, a spokesman for UMC Health System in Lubbock, Texas, said in an email.
“It should be noted that the child had not been vaccinated against measles and had no known underlying medical conditions. This tragic case highlights the importance of vaccination,” the hospital spokesman added. He did not provide further details.
The latest victim was an 8-year-old girl who died of “measles lung failure,” the second confirmed measles death in the United States in the past decade, the New York Times reported.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Kennedy's death or planned trip.
Kennedy's trip was arranged after news of the death was received, according to Axios, which first reported the story. NBC News also noted that Kennedy intended to attend the child's funeral, which was scheduled for Sunday.
Kennedy, known for his vaccine skepticism, said in his initial reaction to the first measles death in February that such outbreaks were common.
Some anti-vaccinationists argue that the decision to vaccinate should be a personal choice. Some experts point out that growing skepticism about vaccines has led to an increase in the number of unvaccinated or undervaccinated people, creating conditions for the spread of infection.
Pediatricians and other health professionals are speaking out against vaccine hesitancy and warning parents that vitamin A and other supplements touted by vaccine critics will not protect their children from the highly contagious and potentially deadly disease.
The Texas Department of State Health Services reported 59 new measles cases in three days on Friday, up 15% from the previous month, bringing the state's total since late January to 481.
Measles cases have also been reported in other states, including New Mexico, Oklahoma and Colorado. In February, another child in Texas died from measles.
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An unvaccinated adult New Mexico resident tested positive for measles after his death in March, although the state medical examiner is investigating the exact cause of his death.
As of Thursday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a weekly increase of 124 measles cases nationwide, bringing the year-to-date total to 607.
In 2024, a total of 285 cases were reported in the United States.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
