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A second child has died from measles in Texas amid an ongoing outbreak of the deadly infectious disease, state officials said.
The Texas Department of Health Services (DSHS) said Sunday (April 6) that the student tested positive for measles and was being treated at a Lubbock hospital before his death. The child died Thursday (April 3) from measles-related lung failure, doctors said.
“The child was not vaccinated and had no underlying medical conditions,” the department said in a statement.
The West Texas measles outbreak began in January. The first child death, also an unvaccinated schoolchild, was reported in February, marking the first measles-related death in the United States since 2015.
In addition to the two child deaths in Texas, a third death has been reported in a New Mexico resident who may be related to the outbreak. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is continuing an independent investigation to confirm whether the third death is related to the outbreak.
As of April 4, Texas DSHS has confirmed 481 cases of measles in the South Plains and Panhandle regions, up significantly from the 124 cases reported in late February.
Most of the reported cases in Texas involve children, and so far 56 people have been hospitalized due to their infections. According to the DSHS outbreak dashboard, Gaines County has reported the most cases — more than 300 — followed by Terry and Lubbock counties, with dozens of cases reported.
Additionally, the vast majority of people who became ill were unvaccinated, according to the dashboard. Of the 481 cases reported, 471 were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status. Three cases were reported in people who had only received one dose of measles vaccine; seven cases were reported in those who had received two doses, the recommended amount for maximum protection.
One dose of the vaccine is 93% effective against measles infection, and two doses are 97%. This immunity usually lasts a lifetime, and vaccinations not only protect against measles, but also prevent long-term complications, some of which can be fatal. So even if a person has had their first bout of measles, they may still experience long-term health consequences or even death.
According to the CDC, there were 607 confirmed cases of measles nationwide in 2025. (This total may not match the full number reported by individual states, as the CDC has its own process for confirming cases.)
Of these CDC-confirmed cases, 97% involved people who were not vaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown. The remaining 3% involved people who had received one or two doses of the measles vaccine. About 12% of those infected were hospitalized.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.
Nicoletta LaneseSocial Links NavigationChannel Editor, Health
Nicoletta Lanese is the health editor for Live Science and previously served as the site's news editor and staff writer. She holds a graduate degree in science communication from the University of California
Sourse: www.livescience.com
