Texas child becomes first to die of measles in U.S. since 2015

TEXAS - Texas has seen its first death in this year's measles outbreak that has infected more than 120 people across the state since late last month. 

This is the first death in the U.S. caused by measles since 2015, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Measles Death Reported

What we know:

The death was confirmed on Wednesday by Lubbock health officials and the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). 

The school-aged child was not vaccinated and was hospitalized in Lubbock last week and tested positive for measles.

The child is not from Lubbock, according to officials.

What we don't know:

The patient's exact age and where the patient is from have not been released.

What they're saying:

Hospital officials in Lubbock are urging people in the West Texas area to make sure they are vaccinated.

"The way to contain is through vaccination. Having two doses can birth 97% lifetime immunity. A lot of people are worried about the risk, the risk is for those who are not immune, not vaccinated," said Dr. Laura Johnson, the Chief Medical Officer for Covenant Health.

While some symptoms are similar, health officials caution that this outbreak is not like COVID.

"It's a very different thing, it's a vaccine-preventable thing," said Dr. Amy Thompson, Executive Officer of Covenant Health. "If you have a vaccine you are not going to get the measles." 

Counties like Lubbock and Gaines have hosted MMR vaccination sites, to boost the levels of protection.

Texas Measles Outbreak

A measles outbreak centered in West Texas continues to grow. State health officials say the outbreak is the largest in the state in nearly 30 years.

Since late January, 125 cases of measles have been identified across 9 counties, with 18 people being hospitalized, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. There have been 34 new cases reported in the region since Friday.

State health officials said five of the reported cases were in patients who were vaccinated. The rest were reported in either unvaccinated people or those whose vaccination status was unknown.

The measles virus can survive in the air for up to two hours, so the times listed include two hours after the individual left that location. 

Measles symptoms can begin 7 to 21 days after an exposure.

Texas measles outbreak

By the numbers:

Total cases by county

• Gaines County: 80
• Lubbock: 1
• Lynn County: 1
• Terry County: 21
• Yoakum County: 5
• Dawson County: 7
• Ector County: 2
• Dallam: 4
• Martin: 3
• Rockwall: 1

Total cases by age

• 0-4 years: 239 cases
• 5-17 years: 62 cases
• 18+: 18 cases
• Unknown: 5 cases

New Mexico measles outbreak

By the numbers:

Cases have made their way into eastern New Mexico, specifically Lea County, which borders Texas and is next to Gaines County, Texas. 

Cases by County

• Lea County: 9

Cases by Age

Age Ranges of Measles Cases:

• 0-4 years: 0
• 5-17 years: 4 cases
• 18+: 5 cases
• Unknown: 0

RFK Jr. on Measles Outbreak

What they're saying:

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was asked about the situation in Texas at President Trump's first cabinet meeting.

"We are watching it, there are about 20 people hospitalized," said Kennedy. "There have been four measles outbreaks this year, in this country last year it was 16, so it is not unusual."

U.S. Cases in 2024

There were a total of 285 cases across the U.S. in 2024, according to the CDC. 

• 120 cases were children under the age of 5.
• 88 cases were for children 5–19 years old, and 77 cases were over the age of 20.
• 40 percent of the cases in 2024 required hospitalization.

What is measles?

Why you should care:

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory illness. The virus is transmitted by direct contact with infectious droplets or by airborne spread when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. 

Measles virus can remain infectious in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area. 

Illness onset (high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes) begins a week or two after someone is exposed. A few days later, the telltale rash breaks out as flat, red spots on the face and then spreads down the neck and trunk to the rest of the body. 

A person is contagious about four days before the rash appears to four days after. People with measles should stay home from work or school during that period.

Symptoms of Measles

Common symptoms for measles include: 

• High fever (as high as 105°F)
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Red and watery eyes
• Tiny white spots that may appear inside the mouth 2-3 days after symptoms begin
• Rash 3-5 days after other signs of illness. The "measles rash" typically starts at the face and then spreads down to the rest of the body.

How to prevent getting measles

The best way to prevent getting sick is to be immunized with two doses of a vaccine against measles, which is primarily administered as the combination measles-mumps-rubella vaccine. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are highly effective at preventing measles.

Some vaccinated people can occasionally develop measles; however, they generally experience milder symptoms and are less likely to spread the disease to other people.

What to do if you've been exposed to measles

If you think you have measles or have been exposed to someone with measles, isolate yourself from others and call your healthcare provider before arriving to be tested so they can prepare for your arrival without exposing other people to the virus. Measles is extremely contagious and can cause life-threatening illness to anyone who is not protected against the virus. Review your and your child’s vaccination history to see if you are up-to-date on your measles vaccines. Additionally, discuss with your provider your vaccination history and any questions about these vaccines.

Controlling outbreaks in group settings

• People with confirmed or suspected measles should stay home from school, work, and other group settings until after the fourth day of rash onset.
• During an outbreak, people without documented immunity from vaccination or previous measles infection should be isolated from anyone with measles to protect those without immunity and control the outbreak.
• According to the Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Rule §97.7, schools and childcare settings shall exclude unimmunized children for at least 21 days after the last date the unimmunized child was exposed to a measles case.

History of Measles in the U.S.

In 1978, the CDC set a goal to eliminate measles from the United States by 1982 with the use of the measles vaccine. 

By 1981, the number of reported measles cases was 80 percent less compared with the previous year.

In 1989, measles outbreaks among vaccinated school-aged children prompted health officials to recommend a second dose of MMR vaccine for all children. 

After widespread implementation of the vaccine, measles cases declined even more. 

Measles was declared eliminated from the United States in 2000. This meant the absence of the continuous spread of disease was greater than 12 months.