Texas Reports Second Measles-Related Child Death Amid Widening US Outbreak | US News

April 7, 2025 TruthUSA

Officials have reported the death of a second child in Texas due to measles, as the state’s outbreak approaches 500 confirmed cases.

The unvaccinated schoolgirl, who had no pre-existing health issues, succumbed to measles pulmonary failure in a hospital on Thursday, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.

University Medical Center Children’s Hospital in Lubbock confirmed in an email that she was being treated for complications arising from the illness.

The girl had recently been diagnosed with the illness, as reported by NBC, Sky’s US partner, referencing a statement from the hospital issued on Sunday.

This marks the second child to die in Texas since a measles outbreak began in late January in Gaines County, where the vaccination rate stands at approximately 82%, below the 95% threshold necessary to protect those who cannot be vaccinated.

Moreover, an adult in New Mexico is suspected to have died from measles, NBC reported, highlighting that these fatalities are the first linked to the disease in the US in a decade.

President Donald Trump addressed reporters on Air Force One on Sunday, indicating that if the outbreak persists, his administration may “have to take action very strongly.”

How to avoid spreading or catching measles

Measles spreads when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes.

Typically, a rash appears a few days after the onset of cold-like symptoms, starting from the face and behind the ears before expanding to the rest of the body.

Infectiousness begins when symptoms first emerge (about four days before the rash appears) and lasts through four days after the rash onset.

To reduce the risk of transmission or infection, individuals should:

Do: Wash hands frequently with soap and warm water, use tissues when coughing or sneezing, and dispose of used tissues properly.

Don’t: Share cutlery, cups, towels, clothes, or bedding with others.

Information from NHS website

US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. identified the child as eight-year-old Daisy Hildebrand and stated he visited Texas on Sunday to extend his condolences to the family.

Images circulated of him at the girl’s funeral held in Seminole, northwest Texas.

On social media platform X, Kennedy, who is skeptical of vaccines and advocates for personal choice, acknowledged that vaccines remain the best defense against measles.

He affirmed that the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine is “the most effective way to prevent the spread of measles,” noting that as of Sunday, 642 measles cases had been confirmed across the US, with 499 instances reported in Texas.

According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, there have been 481 confirmed cases of measles as of Friday, reflecting a 14% increase within a week.

This includes six infants and toddlers from a Lubbock daycare center that tested positive in the last fortnight.

Among those hospitalised for measles in the region since the outbreak began, two children are included in a total of 56 individuals treated, as reported by NBC, citing health officials.

Measles is extremely contagious and can lead to severe complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis, dehydration, and blindness.

The Texas Department of State Health Services characterized measles as a “highly contagious viral infection that can cause life-threatening illness to anyone who is unvaccinated.”

Initial symptoms may include fever, cough, and runny nose, which can escalate into a red-brown rash and high fever.

Source link