Measles Kills Kids, But This Texas Town Says No

ByEthan Pineridge

As the U.S. measles outbreak surpasses 700 cases and spreads to 25 states, residents in the hardest-hit Texas town continue daily life largely unchanged, despite the deaths of two unvaccinated children. The crisis has turned Seminole, Texas—population 7,000—into the epicenter of one of America’s worst measles outbreaks in decades, yet vaccine hesitancy remains deeply entrenched even as the virus claims young lives.

“People are just going about their lives,” a local pharmacy cashier told reporters, noting that no one has stopped by for measles vaccinations since the outbreak began. This sentiment persists despite the recent funeral of eight-year-old Daisy Hildebrand, the second child from the community to die from the disease in two months, according to BBC News.

The tragedy has drawn national attention to this rural community bordered by farmland and oil fields, where vaccination rates fall dangerously below the 95% threshold needed for herd immunity.

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Daily Life in the Hot Zone

In Seminole, a digital billboard warning about measles dangers stands in stark contrast to the community’s apparent indifference. The town has become ground zero for the outbreak that has now infected 541 people across Texas, with Gaines County alone reporting 355 cases.

Savannah Knelsen, an unvaccinated 18-year-old server at a local barbecue restaurant, exemplifies the persistent hesitancy. Despite many family members and friends contracting measles—including a relative who developed a 104.5°F fever but avoided hospitalization—she remains unconvinced about vaccination.

“I’m healthy and want to let my body fight off infections,” Knelsen explained, despite expert consensus that vaccination is the most effective prevention method. Her 19-year-old vaccinated co-worker, Jessica Giesbrecht, expressed concern for her unvaccinated infant niece, highlighting the community’s divided perspectives.

The Religious Community at the Center

The outbreak has spread rapidly among Mennonites, a religious group that began migrating to Seminole in the 1970s. While their faith doesn’t explicitly forbid vaccination, many community members avoid modern healthcare.

South Plains Public Health Director Zach Holbrooks estimates the Mennonite population could be as many as 40,000 across several counties. In these areas, public school vaccination rates dip as low as 82%, far below the 95% necessary for community protection, as reported by Newsweek.

Terri Burke, director of Texas vaccine advocacy group the Immunization Partnership, notes that at least 118,000 kindergarteners in Texas are exempt from one or more vaccines, mostly in rural areas. Parents can obtain waivers for various reasons, including religious objections.

Kennedy’s Controversial Role

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s response to the crisis has evolved amid growing criticism. Initially, he downplayed the outbreak, calling it “not unusual”—a sentiment echoed by President Trump, who told reporters it affected only a “fairly small number of people” and was “not something new.”

Kennedy recently made his strongest endorsement yet of vaccination, stating: “The federal government’s position, my position, is that people should get the measles vaccine.” However, he quickly added that the government “should not be mandating” vaccines, sending mixed signals that experts say undermine public health efforts, according to The Hill.

The health secretary attended Daisy Hildebrand’s funeral in Seminole, where he joined dozens of Mennonite community members to mourn. “My intention was to come down here quietly to console the families and to be with the community in their moment of grief,” Kennedy said.

Dangerous Alternatives Fill the Void

In Seminole’s Mennonite-owned natural health stores, shelves display bottles of cod liver oil containing vitamin A—a supplement Kennedy has promoted as an alternative measles treatment. Medical professionals warn this approach is not only ineffective but potentially dangerous.

Covenant Children’s Hospital in nearby Lubbock has treated several unvaccinated children with measles for vitamin A toxicity after families attempted to use it preventatively. Doctors emphasize that such supplements should never be given without professional guidance and are no substitute for vaccination.

This disconnect between medical recommendations and community practices highlights the challenge facing health officials as they battle both the virus and deeply held beliefs.

Budget Cuts Hamper Response

Local health departments face an additional challenge: fighting the outbreak while preparing for severe budget cuts. The Trump administration’s proposed $11.4 billion reduction in public health grants—temporarily blocked by a judge—threatens critical resources needed to combat the spread.

Gordon Mattimoe, director of Andrews County Health Department, cannot hire a needed immunization nurse due to the potential loss of $250,000 in funding. “I don’t think they have the funds,” he said regarding state assistance.

The Texas Department of Health Services could lose up to $550 million in grant funding. While it has provided staff, vaccines, testing, and other support to local departments, spokesman Chris Van Deusen acknowledged they would likely need additional resources.

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A Long Road Ahead

Since January, Seminole has vaccinated 103 adults and 143 children against measles. Three neighboring rural counties closed their underused vaccine clinics to send more staff to hard-hit Seminole.

“We want to build trust, not tear it down,” Holbrooks said, acknowledging the delicate balance between encouraging vaccination and respecting community autonomy.

Some progress has emerged. In Andrews County, a Mennonite doctor has gained community members’ trust and encouraged vaccinations. “Those trusted messengers in those communities—I think [they’re] very important,” Mattimoe noted.

However, with vaccination rates remaining low and community behavior largely unchanged, health officials warn the outbreak could continue for months. “We’re just at the beginning of it,” Mattimoe cautioned. “It’s going to have to run through the community. Until they get that natural immunity, it’ll just keep running its course.”

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