RFK Jr. attends funeral for Texas youngster who died of measles

GAINES COUNTY, Texas – Well being and Human Companies Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made a visit to Texas on Sunday to attend the funeral of an 8-year-old woman who died of measles.

RFK Jr. Travels to Texas for Funeral

What we all know:

Kennedy says he made the journey to Gaines County, in West Texas, to consolation the household of 8-year-old Daisy Hildebrand.

Based on the Texas Division of State Well being Companies, the kid’s docs stated the reason for dying was measles pulmonary failure. The kid was not vaccinated and had no reported underlying circumstances.

Kennedy says he additionally met with the household of 6-year-old Kayley Fehr, an unvaccinated youngster from Gaines County who handed away in February.

Kennedy says a part of his journey was additionally to find out how his company can higher assist Texas battle the present outbreak.

Texas has 499 confirmed instances of measles since late January, in response to Kennedy. Throughout the U.S., there are 642 confirmed instances throughout 22 states.

Gaines County has been the middle of the outbreak in Texas, the place it has particularly impacted the Mennonite neighborhood.

READ MORE: Who’re the Mennonites? Texas measles outbreak impacts neighborhood

Kennedy deployed a CDC group to Texas in March to assist provide pharmacies and clinics in Texas with Measles, Mumps Rubella vaccines and different medicines. The groups have been solely imagined to be within the area for one to 3 weeks.

The HHS secretary stated he had spoken to Governor Abbott and supplied extra help from the company. On the Governor’s request, Kennedy redeployed CDC groups to the Lone Star State.

He says comparable assist will likely be despatched to different affected areas.

What we do not know:

Kennedy didn’t say the place the CDC groups will likely be deployed.

What they’re saying:

“I got here to­ Gaines County, Texas, right this moment to consolation the Hildebrand household after the lack of their 8-year-old daughter Daisy. I obtained to know the household of 6-year-old Kayley Fehr after she handed away in February. I additionally developed bonds with and deep affection for different members of this neighborhood throughout that tough time. My intention was to return down right here quietly to console the households and to be with the neighborhood of their second of grief,” wrote Kennedy on social media.

RFK Jr. on Measles Vaccine

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., US secretary of Well being and Human Companies (HHS), departs following a tariff announcement within the Rose Backyard of the White Home in Washington, DC, US, on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. US President Donald Trump is imposing tariffs on

Dig deeper:

Kennedy additionally threw his assist behind the MMR vaccine.

“The best approach to forestall the unfold of measles is the MMR vaccine,” Kennedy wrote on social media.

Physician-turned senator Invoice Cassidy (R-Louisiana) known as Sunday for stronger messaging from well being officers in a submit on X.

“Everybody ought to be vaccinated! There isn’t any therapy for measles. No profit to getting measles,” he wrote. “High well being officers ought to say so unequivocally b/4 one other youngster dies.”

Cassidy requested Kennedy to look earlier than his well being committee Thursday, though Kennedy has not publicly confirmed whether or not he’ll attend.

By the numbers:

The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is 97% efficient in opposition to measles after two doses.

Since January, seven instances have been reported in individuals who have been thought of totally vaccinated and three instances in individuals who solely had one dose of the vaccine, in response to an replace from Texas Division of Well being and Human Companies on Friday.

All different instances have been reported in individuals who have been both not vaccinated or their vaccination standing is unknown.

Signs of Measles

Widespread signs for measles embody: 

• Excessive fever (as excessive as 105°F)
• Cough
• Runny nostril
• Pink and watery eyes
• Tiny white spots which will seem contained in the mouth 2-3 days after signs start
• Rash 3-5 days after different indicators of sickness. The “measles rash” usually begins on the face after which spreads all the way down to the remainder of the physique.

How one can forestall getting measles

One of the best ways to stop getting sick is to be immunized with two doses of a vaccine in opposition to measles, which is primarily administered as the mix measles-mumps-rubella vaccine. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are extremely efficient at stopping measles.

Some vaccinated folks can often develop measles; nevertheless, they often expertise milder signs and are much less more likely to unfold the illness to different folks.

What to do in the event you’ve been uncovered to measles

For those who assume you’ve got measles or have been uncovered to somebody with measles, isolate your self from others and name your healthcare supplier earlier than arriving to be examined to allow them to put together to your arrival with out exposing different folks to the virus. Measles is extraordinarily contagious and might trigger life-threatening sickness to anybody who just isn’t protected in opposition to the virus. Assessment your and your youngster’s vaccination historical past to see in case you are up-to-date in your measles vaccines. Moreover, focus on together with your supplier your vaccination historical past and any questions on these vaccines.

Controlling outbreaks in group settings

• Folks with confirmed or suspected measles ought to keep residence from college, work, and different group settings till after the fourth day of rash onset.
• Throughout an outbreak, folks with out documented immunity from vaccination or earlier measles an infection ought to be remoted from anybody with measles to guard these with out immunity and management the outbreak.
• Based on the Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Rule §97.7, colleges and childcare settings shall exclude unimmunized youngsters for at the very least 21 days after the final date the unimmunized youngster was uncovered to a measles case.