LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — The West Texas community is reeling from a tragic loss as a person who was hospitalized with measles has succumbed to the disease. This marks the first death in an ongoing outbreak that originated in the region at the end of last month. Melissa Whitfield, a spokesperson for Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, confirmed the heartbreaking news on Wednesday. Details regarding the age of the patient who passed away overnight are still undisclosed.
Covenant Children’s Hospital in Lubbock has not yet responded to requests for further comment on the matter. The measles outbreak in rural West Texas has now escalated to a total of 124 reported cases spanning nine counties, according to the state health department’s latest update on Tuesday. Additionally, there have been nine cases reported in eastern New Mexico.
Measles, a highly contagious respiratory virus, can linger in the air for up to two hours and poses a significant risk to those who are unvaccinated. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that up to 9 out of 10 susceptible individuals exposed to the virus will contract it. While most children infected with measles do recover, the disease can lead to severe complications such as pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling, and tragically, death.
The outbreak appears to be most prevalent within the Mennonite community, situated in an area characterized by small towns separated by vast expanses of oil rigs and open land. Despite the physical distance between these towns, the interconnectedness of the residents who travel for work, church services, shopping, and other daily activities has facilitated the spread of the virus.
*Correction: This story has been updated to reflect that Melissa Whitfield from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center provided the confirmation of the death, not a spokesperson for the city of Lubbock.*
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