“We have measles outbreaks every year,” he added. Mr. Kennedy has also said in the past that immunizations against measles and some other infectious diseases are unnecessary and risky.

Robert F. Kennedy, in his first comments on measles as the new Trump health secretary, says the outbreak is not unusual. 'We have measles outbreaks every year.'

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Wednesday said the nation's major measles outbreak is "not unusual," as a child who was not vaccinated died from the virus in West Texas.

The majority of the 124 measles cases reported in Texas this year have been in children between five and 17. The first death in an ongoing measles outbreak has been reported in Texas. The Texas Department of State Health Services announced the death of a school-aged child on Wednesday morning.

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