U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert K. Kennedy Jr. visited the epicenter of Texas’ still-growing measles outbreak on Sunday, the same day a funeral was held for a second
young child who was not vaccinated and died from a measles-related illness.
Kennedy said in a social media post that he was working to “control the outbreak” and went to Gaines County to comfort th
e families who have buri
ed two young children. He was seen late Sunday afternoon outside of a Mennonite church where the funeral services were held, but
he did not attend a nearby news conference held by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about the outbreak.
Seminole is the epicure of the outbreak, which started in late January and co
ntinues to swell — with nearly 500 cases in Texas alone, plus cases from the outbreak believed to have spread to New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas and Mexico.
The second young child died Thursday from “what the child’s doctor described as measles pulmonary failure,” and did not have underlyi
ng health conditions, the Texas State Department of State Health Services said Sunday in a news release. Aaron Davis, a spokesper
son for UMC Health System in Lubbock, said that the child was “receiving treatment for complications of measles while hospitalized.”
This is the third known measles-related death tied to this outbreak. One wa
Watch More Image Part 2 >>>
s another elementary-school aged child in Texas and the other was an adult in New Mexico; neither were vaccinated.
It’s Kennedy’s first visit to the area as health secretary, where he said he met with families of both the 6- and 8-year-old children who di
d. He said he “developed bonds” with the Mennonite community in West Texas in which the virus is mostly spreading.
Kennedy, an anti-vaccine advocate before ascending to the role of nation’s top health secretary earlier this year, has resisted urging wides
pread vaccinations as the measles outbreak has worsened under his watch. On Sunday, however, he said in a lengthy statement posted on X that it was “the most effective way to prevent the spread of measles.”
The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine has been used safely for more than 60 years and is 97% effective against measles after two doses.
Dr. Manisha Patel, CDC incident manager, said in a Sunday news conference that the MMR vaccine is the best way to protect against measles. She also told parents in Gaines County that it was important not to “delay care” for a child who is sick with measles.
“Call your doctor and make sure you’re talking to a health care professional who can guide you on those next steps,” Patel said.
