TEXAS — A second school-aged child in West Texas has died from complications related to measles, a hospital spokesperson confirmed Sunday, as a rapidly growing outbreak continues to sweep through the region.

Aaron Davis, a spokesperson for UMC Health System in Lubbock, said the child was unvaccinated and had been receiving treatment for measles complications before passing away. He did not specify the exact date of death.

This marks the second pediatric fatality in the Lubbock area since February and the third measles-related death in the U.S. this year. The first was another unvaccinated child, and the second was an adult in New Mexico who also did not receive medical treatment.

Although the latest death was not yet reflected in official reports by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the Texas Department of State Health Services as of Friday, the outbreak has already reached critical levels. Nearly 570 people have been infected, with cases spreading to neighboring states including New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Kansas. The World Health Organization has also identified related cases in Mexico.

The outbreak has seen a sharp rise, with 81 new cases reported in Texas alone between March 28 and April 4, and 16 new hospitalizations. A CDC response team is currently on the ground in Texas assisting state health authorities.

Nationwide, the number of measles cases in 2025 has already more than doubled the total from all of 2024.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., known for his anti-vaccine stance, has been criticized for his lukewarm advocacy of the measles vaccine. He is expected to launch a “Make America Healthy Again” campaign tour in the southwestern U.S. this week. Critics, including former FDA vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks, say Kennedy’s messaging has contributed to unnecessary deaths.

“This is the epitome of an absolutely needless death,” Marks said Sunday. “These kids should get vaccinated — that’s how you prevent people from dying of measles.”

Marks also warned U.S. lawmakers that further fatalities are likely unless the federal government takes stronger action. Kennedy is scheduled to testify before the Senate health committee later this week.

Experts fear the outbreak could last for many more months or even a year, especially in areas with low vaccination rates. Most of the Texas cases involve unvaccinated children under 17.

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus that can linger in the air for up to two hours. According to the CDC, up to 90% of unvaccinated individuals exposed to the virus will become infected. The two-dose MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine is 97% effective in preventing measles and has been in use for over 60 years. — Agencies