In western Texas, a second child died of measles as the outbreak of highly contagious virus continues to grow.
School-age children were not vaccinated, had no underlying health conditions, and suffered from measles complications at the hospital, Aaron Davis, vice president of the UMC Health System, told the BBC.
US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faces backlash over his handling of his outbreak and visited Texas on Sunday as a result of his death.
As of Friday this year, states in the southern United States have reported more than 480 measles this year, a jump from 420 this year. The outbreak spread to nearby states.
“This unfortunate event underscores the importance of vaccinations,” Davis said in a statement. “Measles is a highly contagious disease and can lead to serious complications, especially for those who have not been vaccinated.”
The child – an 8-year-old girl – passed away early Thursday.
The BBC has contacted the state health department and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for comment. Neither agency listed the death in their lawsuit on Friday.
In a statement posted on social media, Kennedy confirmed the girl’s death.
“My intention was to come quietly here to comfort my family and be with the community in moments of sadness,” he said in a statement.
He also said he was engaged to officials there to support Texas health officials and learn that the HHS agency is a better partner with them to control the outbreak of measles. Kennedy said he was deploying the team, as he did in March.
“The most effective way to prevent the spread of measles is the MMR vaccine,” Kennedy writes, referring to measles, mumps and rubella jabs.
In February, the 6-year-old, who had not been vaccinated from the local Mennonite community, was the first child in the United States to die of measles in the first time in 10 years. In March, an unvaccinated man died in New Mexico after contracting the virus, but the cause of his death is still under investigation.
President Donald Trump on Sunday told Air Force reporters he believes he has a major inclusion in the outbreak.
“So far, there are quite a few people compared to what we’re talking about,” he said. “That’s something people have known for years. This isn’t new.”
“We see what happens. If it progresses, we have to take action. We have to take very strong actions,” he said in response to a question from the BBC.
The US has recorded more than 600 measles so far this year, nearly three times more cases than the 285 cases recorded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last year.
Many of this year’s incidents are linked to an outbreak that began in western Texas, almost all of the people who have not been vaccinated.
Public health experts say the New Mexico, Oklahoma and Kansas incidents are likely linked to the original outbreak.
Viruses that can cause fever, red rash, cough and other symptoms are associated with many complications, including pneumonia, swelling of the brain, and death.
The US declared that measles had been eliminated in 2000, but since then, the outbreak has been rising with increasing anti-vaccine sentiment.
Two shots of vaccination – proven safe – are 97% effective in preventing the virus and reducing severe infections. To achieve immunity in the herd – if enough groups are immune to the disease, limit their spread and protect vaccinations – about 95% of the population should have shots, experts say.
The recent outbreak has emerged in a religious community that strongly rejects vaccines. Local health officials in western Texas told the BBC that limited progress has been made in their efforts to improve vaccination rates.
Kennedy’s early response to the worsening epidemic was suppressed and attracted criticism from health experts.
Kennedy, a vaccine skeptic, initially described the situation as “not unusual.”
He changed his approach after his child died of measles in the first February in the United States for the first time in 10 years, but stopped recommending parents vaccinate their children. He instead encouraged them to talk to their doctor about their shots.
On Sunday, Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Republican representing Louisiana, called for a stronger messaging. Cassidy is also a doctor, and previously criticised Kennedy for his skepticism towards vaccination.
“Everyone should get vaccinated! There is no measles treatment. There is no benefit in getting measles,” Cassidy wrote on social media platform X.
Kennedy also may promote vitamin A as a treatment for measles, but doctors say it should only be provided in certain cases under the guidance of a doctor.
In Lubbock, Texas, Covenant Children’s Hospital treated several children for vitamin A toxicity after being sent to hospital for measles complications.
