First Measles Death Reported in West Texas Amid Growing Outbreak
Sarah Johnson
March 3, 2025
Brief
West Texas has reported its first measles-related death in an outbreak affecting over 100 people, with low vaccination rates fueling the spread across multiple counties.
West Texas has reported its first measles-related death in an outbreak that has already infected over 100 people, according to the Associated Press. Melissa Whitfield, a spokesperson for Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, confirmed the fatality but withheld details on the patient’s identity and age.
As of Tuesday, the outbreak had spread to 124 individuals across nine counties in Texas, with nine additional cases reported in neighboring New Mexico, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). The outbreak was first confirmed on February 5.
The DSHS emphasized that the most effective way to prevent measles is through vaccination, recommending two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) immunization. However, concerns are mounting as vaccination rates in Texas hover below the critical 95% threshold required for herd immunity, currently sitting at 91%.
Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News' senior medical analyst, pointed to vaccine non-compliance as a driving factor behind the outbreak's spread. He highlighted that exemption rates for childhood vaccines are rising, with compliance now below 85%. Most of the reported cases involve unvaccinated school-aged children.
“Measles is wildly contagious among unvaccinated individuals,” Siegel noted, adding that one in five cases leads to hospitalization. He also mentioned that pneumonia, a potential complication of measles, occurs in about one out of every 20 cases, possibly explaining the recent fatality.
So far, 18 of the 124 confirmed cases have required hospitalization, with experts suspecting many more cases are going unreported. Siegel warned that legislative efforts to increase vaccine exemptions could further jeopardize public health.
This tragic milestone serves as a stark reminder of the risks posed by declining vaccination rates in a world where measles, a disease we once nearly eradicated, remains "wildly contagious." Let's not forget, this virus doesn't care about legislative debates—it just finds the unvaccinated and spreads like wildfire.
This is a developing story.
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Editor's Comments
It’s maddening to think that a disease like measles, which was nearly eliminated in the U.S., is making a comeback because some people choose to skip vaccines. Herd immunity isn’t just a catchy phrase—it’s a literal lifeline for vulnerable populations like pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals. And the fact that we're debating more exemptions while facing outbreaks? It's like arguing about fire safety while your house is burning.
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