Measles Outbreak Texas 2025: Second Child Fatality Reported

According to the Texas Department of Health and Human Services (DSHS), a child passed away from complications due to measles on Thursday, April 3rd, 2025. This is the second child to pass away during the current measles outbreak.

First Fatality in West Texas Town

The first child to pass away was young girl living in the West Texas town of Seminole, Texas.  Seminole is home to a large Mennonite population, and although there is nothing that strictly prohibits vaccinations in the Mennonite movement, it's members to tend to be vaccinated less than the rest of the population.

Details of the Second Child's Passing

The second child that passed away last Thursday was an 8-year-old girl that was also unvaccinated. She was also living in Seminole, and it was reported by the DSHS that she had no underlying health conditions before passing away while being treated for measles at University Medical Center in Lubbock. Her funeral was Sunday.

Measles Case Numbers and Hospitalizations in Texas

According to the CDC, as of April 3rd, 2025, there have been 607 confirmed measles cases. DSHS has reported that 481 of those cases were in the Lone Star state with fifty-six of those cases being hospitalized. DSHS states that both of the fatalities related to measles in 2025 were school aged children that had not been vaccinated and had no underlying medical conditions that would have contributed to their deaths.

Federal Response and Vaccination Importance

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Health and Human Services Secretary, has been an outspoken opponent to vaccinations, and in the past, he has said that vaccinations should be a personal choice. However, on Sunday the Health and Human Services Secretary posted on X that "The most effective way to prevent the spread of measles is the MMR vaccine."