Before the measles vaccine, there were over 30 million cases of the disease worldwide each year.

The U.S. registered its first death from measles since 2015 this week, as a child who wasn’t vaccinated died in a measles outbreak in rural West Texas.

Thanks to the introduction of a vaccine in 1963, measles was considered eliminated in the US in 2000. Yet the highly contagious disease has reemerged as a threat as declining vaccination rates have fueled outbreaks around the country.

The U.S. recorded its first measles death in a decade this week as the largest outbreak of the disease in Texas in 30 years has spread. Why it matters: The outbreak comes at a time of dropping vaccination rates and declining trust in public health institutions.

The US has reported its first measles death since 2015 during an outbreak in Texas, highlighting global concerns over declining measles vaccination rates post-COVID-19. Lower vaccination rates have sparked increased cases in several regions,

Los Angeles County has its first confirmed case of the measles amid a growing number of cases in the United States.

While there are usually cases and even minor outbreaks reported yearly, the 2025 outbreak is on track to be the largest in six years.

Measles can cause seizures, blindness and death, and children under the age of 5 are particularly vulnerable to complications.

As Texas faces its worst measles outbreak in years, EverythingLubbock.com spoke with Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) Dr. Duke Appiah Ph.D, to