An eight-year-old girl in western Texas has become the second child to die from measles amid a fast-growing outbreak of the highly contagious virus, health officials confirmed Thursday. The child, who had no underlying health conditions, was unvaccinated and died from complications related to the disease.

Aaron Davis, Vice President of UMC Health System, confirmed the death and issued a renewed call for vaccination. “This tragic loss highlights the critical need for immunization,” he said. “Measles is incredibly contagious and can lead to severe outcomes—especially among those who are unvaccinated.”

In response, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. traveled to Texas on Sunday to meet with grieving families and local leaders. He announced that a federal team had been deployed to assist with distributing vaccines and medical supplies to affected areas.

As of this week, Texas has recorded over 480 measles cases in 2025, up from 420 just days ago. The outbreak began within a religious community known for rejecting vaccinations and has since spread to neighboring states including New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Most cases involve unvaccinated individuals.

This outbreak has now become the worst measles crisis the U.S. has seen in years. In February, a six-year-old girl from a Mennonite community became the first American child to die from measles in over a decade. In March, an unvaccinated man in New Mexico also succumbed to the virus, though officials say his death remains under investigation.

Despite growing concern from public health experts, President Donald Trump downplayed the outbreak during comments to reporters on Sunday. “So far, it’s a fairly small number of people,” he said, adding that the government “will consider very strong action” if the situation worsens.

Health officials nationwide continue to stress the importance of vaccination as the primary defense against further spread.