West Texas Measles Outbreak Grows; Health Secretary Kennedy Visits Amid Tragedy

As the measles outbreak centered in Gaines County continues to escalate, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made a solemn visit to the region Sunday, just as the community buried a second young child lost to the virus.

Reason for the Visit?

Kennedy, who has faced criticism for his past vaccine skepticism, was seen outside a Mennonite church in Seminole—now considered the outbreak’s epicenter—offering condolences to grieving families. While he didn’t attend a CDC press conference held nearby, he posted on social media that he was “working to control the outbreak” and had met personally with the families of both children who died.

The outbreak, which began in late January, has now led to nearly 500 confirmed cases across Texas, with additional infections reported in New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, and even Mexico. Health officials confirmed that the most recent victim, a young child with no underlying health conditions, died of measles pulmonary failure while receiving care at UMC Health System in Lubbock.

This marks the third known death tied to the current outbreak—including a child in Texas and an adult in New Mexico—all unvaccinated.

Robert F. Kennedy's Stance

Though Kennedy stopped short of issuing a widespread call for vaccination, he acknowledged Sunday that vaccination remains “the most effective way to prevent the spread of measles.” This statement came as CDC incident manager Dr. Manisha Patel urged parents not to delay care and emphasized the safety and effectiveness of the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine, which is 97% effective after two doses and has been widely used for over six decades.

The CDC confirmed it redeployed a team to Gaines County this week at Kennedy’s request to help contain the outbreak. But frustration continues to build among lawmakers and health professionals, who say more assertive messaging from federal leadership is urgently needed.

U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana wrote online:

“Everyone should be vaccinated! There is no treatment for measles. No benefit to getting measles.”

Health experts worry the outbreak could last for months—if not longer—due to declining vaccination rates, especially among children. Locally, doctors report a rise in vitamin A misuse by unvaccinated families, resulting in liver complications for some children.

With over 81 new cases and 16 hospitalizations added in just the past week, West Texas remains at the heart of a growing national health emergency—one that could threaten the country’s status of measles elimination if not swiftly contained.