Measles deaths, first in US for decade recorded in Texas

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February 28, 2025
2 min read

Measles deaths, first in US for decade recorded in Texas

The US has recorded its first death from measles since 2015. Health officials in Texas have officially confirmed that a ‘school-aged’ child had lost their life to the illness following a massive outbreak in the west of the state. Nine counties have been impacted and the child was reportedly not vaccinated.

At the time of writing, 124 measles cases have been confirmed in western Texas. At least nine were recorded in the east of neighbouring New Mexico but the current outbreak in Texas is considered the worst reported in the state in almost three decades.

The child who died was taken to hospital where they remained for several days after they contracted the illness. Data from Texas’ health department revealed that most measles cases involved children under the age of 18.

One of the first vaccines recommended for all children when they are born is for measles, mumps, and rubella. Children between the ages of 12 and 15 months are given their first dose. The second dose comes between the ages of 4 and 6 years old.

The outbreak in western Texas is currently concentrated in what is reported as a “close-knit, unprevaccinated” Mennonite community. Many of the children in such a community are sent to private religious schools which often do not require them to be vaccinated before being admitted to the school.

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