Unvaccinated Child Becomes First in a Decade to Die of Measles as Texas Outbreak Grows

A measles outbreak in rural West Texas has claimed the life of an unvaccinated child, marking the first U.S. measles-related death since 2015.

The Texas Department of State Health Services confirmed Wednesday that a "school-aged child who was not vaccinated" died following a hospitalization for the measles virus.

The outbreak, now at 124 cases across nine Texas counties, is the state's largest in nearly 30 years. An additional nine cases have been identified in eastern New Mexico.

The cases are concentrated in an under-vaccinated Gaines County Mennonite community, where many children are homeschooled or attend small private schools. Gaines County has one of the state's highest vaccine opt-out rates, with nearly 14% of K-12 students missing at least one required shot.

Measles, a highly contagious respiratory virus, spreads easily in unvaccinated populations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that up to 90% of unprotected individuals will contract the virus if exposed. While most children recover, measles can lead to severe complications, including pneumonia, brain swelling and death.

The outbreak comes amid renewed debate over childhood vaccinations. Texas requires the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine for public school entry, but exemptions are rising.

Federal and state health officials continue to monitor the outbreak, urging vaccinations to prevent further spread.