U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. traveled to Gaines County, Texas, on Sunday to grieve with families after the death of an 8-year-old girl — the second unvaccinated child to die during a rapidly growing measles outbreak that has infected nearly 500 Texans and spread to surrounding states.
In an emotional message shared on social media, Kennedy said he was there to comfort the Hildebrand family following the death of young Daisy, and to reconnect with the family of 6-year-old Kayley Fehr, who died in February. “My intention was to come down here quietly… and to be with the community in their moment of grief,” he wrote.
At the same time, Kennedy offered new figures on the national measles outbreak, confirming 642 cases across 22 states, with 499 of them in Texas. The Texas Department of State Health Services said Daisy died Thursday from “measles pulmonary failure” despite having no underlying health conditions. She had been hospitalized at UMC Health System in Lubbock for severe complications from the virus.
(
Image:
AP)
The outbreak began in late January in Seminole and has since been linked to additional cases in New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, and even Mexico.
Kennedy, who once made headlines for vaccine skepticism, is now publicly promoting immunization efforts. “The most effective way to prevent the spread of measles is the MMR vaccine,” he said, adding that CDC teams were deployed in March to help Texas health officials distribute vaccines, assist local clinics and schools, and respond to communities with questions.
(
Image:
AP)
He added that measles growth and hospitalization rates have started to flatten following federal intervention — but warned that continued cooperation with state and local leaders is critical. “We will continue to follow Texas’ lead and to offer similar resources to other affected jurisdictions.”
Click here to follow the Mirror US on Google News to stay up to date with all the latest news, sports and entertainment stories
This is the third known measles-related death tied to this outbreak. One was 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 died. He said he “developed bonds” with the Mennonite community in West Texas in which the virus is mostly spreading.
(
Image:
AP)
Sign up to our FREE newsletter and get the top stories to your inbox
DAILY NEWSLETTER: Sign up here to get the latest news and updates from the Mirror US straight to your inbox with our FREE newsletter.
Kennedy, an anti-vaccine advocate before ascending to the role of nation’s top health secretary earlier this year, has resisted urging widespread 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.”
