Second child dies in Texas measles outbreak
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed a total of 607 measles cases so far this year
The Texas Department of State Health Services has confirmed the death of a second measles-related death in the city of Lubbock, northwest Texas.
The school-aged child had tested positive for measles, and had subsequently been hospitalised before passing away on 3 April due to measles-related pulmonary failure.
The child had no underlying conditions, but was not vaccinated.
It follows the death of another unvaccinated, school-aged child, also from Lubbock, on 26 February.
A growing number of measles cases in the US
According to a statement by the CDC, as of 3 April there were a total of 607 confirmed measles cases across the US, in 22 jurisdictions.
Despite this figure only covering the first quarter of 2025, that number is approximately half of the 1,274 cases reported throughout the entirety of 2019, when the last significant outbreak occurred, suggesting a much faster spread. It is also more than double the 285 cases reported in 2024.
Of those confirmed cases of measles, the CDC reported that 97% had either been unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status. Additionally, 12% of those infected with the disease this year were hospitalised.
Texas has the most cases
The current outbreak is centred on the state of Texas, where a total of 481 cases have been confirmed since January, most of them in children.
Other jurisdictions with cases are: Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, New York State, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, and Washington.
The CDC has stated that it is currently working to confirm a suspected case reported by the New Mexico Department of Health, where a patient tested positive for measles after death.
A highly infectious disease
Measles is a potentially deadly disease that is highly infectious. It can be transmitted through direct contact with infectious droplets, or by airborne means, such as when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes.
Symptoms typically manifest a week or two after exposure, and early signs include a high fever, cough, a runny nose, and watery eyes. A few days later, the infected person will exhibit rashes, such as flat, red spots on the face, neck, and trunk of the body.
Infected persons can be contagious from up to four days before to four days after the rash appears, and those who may have the disease should avoid exposing others to the virus. Instead, if they think they may have measles, they should isolate themselves and notify their healthcare provider to receive a diagnosis.
The best way to prevent getting sick from measles is to be immunised with two doses of a measles-containing vaccine, such as the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine.
The CDC issued a level 1 travel health notice for measles in the Philippines in May of last year.
Oliver Cuenca
Oliver Cuenca is a Junior Editor for Voyageur Group, joining in 2021. He writes for both ITIJ and AirMed&Rescue, covering a range of topics including international travel and health insurance, medical assistance provision and air medical transportation. He also serves as Title Editor of the Assistance & Repatriation Reviews. Oliver holds an MA in Magazine Journalism from Cardiff University, as well as a BA in English with Creative Writing from Falmouth University.
February 2025
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