February 28, 2025 – Health officials in Texas, led by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), have intensified efforts to contain a burgeoning measles outbreak in the state’s South Plains and Panhandle regions, notifying local communities and federal agencies of a dire escalation.
As of today, DSHS reports that the outbreak has grown to 146 confirmed cases since late January, with one tragic fatality—an unvaccinated school-aged child who succumbed to the disease on Wednesday.
This marks the first measles-related death in the United States in a decade, reigniting debates over vaccination policies that have simmered for years. Despite aggressive public health campaigns, officials have faced persistent pushback from vaccine-hesitant communities and logistical hurdles in rural areas, where access to healthcare remains spotty.
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