The growing measles outbreak in Texas has raised significant concern, with nearly 20 people hospitalized and one unvaccinated child dying from the disease. The outbreak, which has affected a predominantly under-vaccinated Mennonite community in West Texas, has led to 146 reported cases as of February 2025. U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., has faced scrutiny over his previous anti-vaccine statements, yet health experts emphasize the importance of vaccination in preventing outbreaks. In response to the crisis, the CDC and local health authorities continue to advocate for measles vaccinations.
Will Humble, Executive Director of the Arizona Public Health Association, joined Arizona Horizon to discuss the growing public health concern and the implications of declining vaccination rates in the U.S.