President Donald Trump Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F Kennedy Jr has said he visited Texas following the announcement that a second child succumbed to measles within the state .
Kennedy supposedly went to the kid's burial service on Sunday.
The eight-year-old girl — identified by Kennedy as Daisy Hildebrand — passed away early Thursday morning due to "measles pulmonary failure while she received care at a hospital in Lubbock, Texas .
Her passing is the second one linked to a measles outbreak in western Texas And the second linked to the illness in the U.S. over ten years. Many inhabitants in the area—and even those in neighboring states—have contracted the infection.
Kennedy stated on X: "I aimed to arrive here discreetly to comfort the families and to stand alongside the community during their time of sorrow."
Even though he had previously been a outspoken critic of vaccines, Kennedy admitted that the MMR vaccine was the best method to stop the outbreak of measles.
The best method to stop the spread of measles is through the MMR vaccine," he stated. "I've talked with Governor Abbott and offered ongoing assistance from HHS. In response to his request, we have shifted CDC teams to Texas. We'll keep following Texas' guidance and provide comparable resources to other impacted areas.
The UMC Health System said on Sunday that the girl had not been vaccinated against the disease and had no underlying health conditions that contributed to her death.
The first death In the area, another unvaccinated child passed away in February. A potential third death might have occurred — an an unvaccinated person from New Mexico —the person who tested positive for measles. Authorities are still working to determine whether measles was the reason for their death.
Since the onset of the outbreak in January, West Texas has documented 480 measles cases, leading to 56 hospitalizations. Additionally, New Mexico has seen 54 individuals affected, with Oklahoma recording another 10 infections.
Health authorities in the area anticipate that the epidemic will persist for approximately one year, potentially jeopardizing the region’s measles elimination status, a milestone it achieved back in 2000.
Measles is extremely contagious It may remain airborne for as long as two hours following an infected person’s departure from a space and can be dispersed via breathing, coughing, or sneezing.
Usually, signs of measles such as skin rash, fever, coughing, stuffy nose, and inflamed eyes will fade within several weeks. However, in uncommon instances, it might lead to pneumonia, posing particular risk for kids, seniors, and those with weakened immunity.
The illness may lead to brain inflammation, resulting in potential vision loss, hearing impairment, and cognitive disabilities.
Kennedy has faced criticism for his handling of the outbreak, especially considering the HHS boss is a vocal vaccine skeptic. He has been broadly supportive of the measles vaccine but has also emphasized alternative and untested treatments to combat the disease, like using cod liver oil.
Physicians in Texas informed the Times That Kennedy’s support for alternative therapies has led some individuals to delay seeking proper medical attention while simultaneously ingesting dangerously high doses of vitamin A.
Specialists are worried that the Trump administration’s choice to cut funds for local health agencies might lead to more significant, widespread outbreaks across multiple states. On Sunday, Kennedy posted on X stating his commitment to ensuring support for Texas public health authorities as they work to control the measles epidemic.
On Sunday, Dr Peter Marks, after stepping down from his role at the Food and Drug Administration where he managed the agency’s vaccine initiatives, pointed fingers at Kennedy and his team for being responsible for the child's demise.
"This truly represents a completely unnecessary loss of life,"Marks stated to the audience. Associated Press On Sunday, they stated, "Vaccinating these children is essential—it’s the way to stop people from succumbing to measles."
He said that he warned the Senate That additional measles-related fatalities could happen if the Trump administration did not adopt stronger measures to control the spread of the disease.
The Senate health panel has asked Kennedy to appear as a witness on Thursday.
A member of that committee includes Republican Senator Bill Cassidy, who is both a physician and an advocate for vaccines. Despite this, he sided with his fellow Republicans. confirming Kennedy During his testimony, he adopted a more robust position on the necessity of vaccines compared to the HHS secretary.
On Sunday, Cassidy released a statement indicating that "all individuals ought to get vaccinated."
He stated that "there is no advantage in contracting measles," and emphasized that "leading health experts ought to clearly assert this before another child passes away."
As of Friday, the The U.S. has over 600 cases of measles. Cases this year have exceeded twice the total number of cases recorded in 2024.
Lubbock’s public health leader, Katherine Wells, stated NBC News that the actual number of infected individuals is likely much higher than what has been reported, as many who are infected may not be getting tested for the illness.
She mentioned that along with other healthcare professionals, she is pleading with families to get their kids vaccinated against measles.
As per the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only two doses of the MMR vaccine are required for full immunisation, with this vaccine being 97% effective. It is known to be both safe and has been successfully given to children over many years.
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