Covenant Children's Hospital in Lubbock, Texas, is pictured from outside the emergency entrance on Feb. 26. A measles outbreak in rural west Texas has grown. AP Photo
A measles outbreak in rural West Texas has claimed the life of an unvaccinated child, marking the first U.S. death since 2015, from the highly contagious disease in nearly a decade.
Tragic Loss in West Texas
The school-aged child had been hospitalized at Covenant Children's Hospital in Lubbock but did not survive. Health officials confirmed the child was not from Lubbock County. The Texas Department of State Health Services and local health authorities announced the death on Wednesday.
"This is a big deal," said Dr. Amy Thompson, CEO of Covenant Health. "We have known that we have measles in our community, and now we are seeing a very serious consequence."
Largest Measles Outbreak in Texas in 30 Years
Since last month, Texas has seen a surge in measles cases, with 124 reported across nine counties. This outbreak is the state’s most severe in nearly three decades. More than 20 patients have been hospitalized at Covenant, including the first confirmed case of the outbreak.
On Wednesday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed that this is the first measles-related death in the country since 2015. The U.S. saw a major measles outbreak in 2019, with the highest number of cases in 30 years. The disease has made a resurgence in 2024, including a Chicago outbreak that affected over 60 people.
New Case in Rockwall County
Later on Wednesday, health officials identified a new measles case in Rockwall County, near Dallas. This patient had recently traveled abroad and is not linked to the West Texas outbreak.
Children at Higher Risk
Data from the Texas health department shows that most cases involve individuals under 18. The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is highly effective in preventing the disease. It is recommended for children at 12–15 months, with a second dose between ages four and six.
Although public school students in the U.S. must receive this vaccine before kindergarten, cases in West Texas have been concentrated in a "close-knit, undervaccinated" Mennonite community. Many families in this community either homeschool their children or send them to small private religious schools, where vaccination rates are lower.
Gaines County, which has reported 80 cases, has one of the highest rates of vaccine exemptions in Texas. Nearly 14% of K-12 students in the county opted out of at least one required vaccine in the 2023–24 school year.
Measles Cases Rising in Canada
Canada is also experiencing a rise in measles cases. Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer, reported that 95 cases have been confirmed this year, compared to 147 for all of 2023.
New cases have emerged in Quebec, Ontario, and Manitoba. Health officials say most of those infected were unvaccinated.
The Importance of Vaccination
Health experts continue to stress the importance of vaccination in preventing measles outbreaks. The disease is highly contagious but preventable with the MMR vaccine. The recent outbreak serves as a reminder of the risks unvaccinated individuals face.
