RFK Jr. visits Texas after his second child dies
Dr. Mark Siegel, a senior medical analyst at Fox News, joined Fox & Friends to visit Utah after HHS secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. promoted the MMR vaccine and announced the state’s ban on fluoride in water.
Since the outbreak began in late January, measles cases have continued to rise sharply in Texas.
State health officials reported Tuesday that 561 cases have confirmed lawsuits in 23 counties, up 20 since April 11.
Gaines County case, center of occurrence West TexasIt jumped from 355 to 364, citing the Texas Department of Health (DSHS), according to Reuters. The county now accounts for almost 65% of the state’s total lawsuits, health officials say.
In response to the outbreak, the US government will send seven staff members to the state to help fight the outbreak, the outlet reported.
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Measles cases in Texas have skyrocketed to 561.
Dr. David Sgelman, of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), provided an update on the American response. Measles outbreak Tuesday, according to Reuters. He said the CDC already deployed 15 staff in Texas from March 4 to April 1, and the agency plans to send a second team on Tuesday, the outlet reported.
However, Sgelmann said the cancellation of federal grants has hindered response to the outbreak, according to Reuters.
“We’re rubbing to find the resources and personnel needed to provide support to Texas and other jurisdictions,” Sgelman said.
The second child of measles died in Texas, officials say
Teenager’s arm covered with measles rash. (istock)
local Public Health Officials also told Reuters that the outbreak could last a year.
Dr. Katherine Wells, director of Lubbock Public Health, told Reuters that if the outbreak continues after January 20, 2026, the US could be at risk of losing its measles elimination status. The United States was declared in 2000 that there was no endemic measles transmission.
Texas health officials said that fewer than 25 confirmed cases are estimated to be “actively infectious” in only 4%. Individuals may be more infectious four days before and after onset of symptoms.
The CDC will send more personnel to Texas to combat the state’s measles outbreak. (Reuters/Tami Chapel/File Photo)
Since Outbreak Of the total state patients that began, 58 were hospitalized.
Children under the age of 18 currently account for the largest demographic of people infected with measles, accounting for 381 out of 561 cases.
Two deaths have been recorded among school-age children. The children were not vaccinated and there were no fundamental conditions.
Since January, seven cases have been reported among those deemed fully vaccinated, and four cases have been reported for those who only had one dose, health officials reported.
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The other 550 cases have either been vaccinated or have been reported in vaccination status.
Reuters contributed to this report.
