Measly Policies: Concern Over Measles Outbreak Rises

March 3rd, 2025

Brogan Jones

COVID-19 had numerous impacts on all aspects of society, from economic growth to how people interact with one another. Among these, an often overlooked impact is elevated concerns over public health. Prior to the pandemic, viruses and outbreaks were treated seriously, but not quite given the same priority they are today. In a post-COVID world, every report of a new outbreak or a new, more resilient strain of a virus emerging is more likely to spark fear than it was before March 2020. Simultaneously, concerns over public health are being elevated even further due to concerns surrounding the new Trump administration. A common question among health officials and concerned citizens alike has been what effect Trump and his cabinet’s policies will have on vaccination and the ability of the government to respond to public health emergencies. Specifically, a lot of questions have been raised over prominent anti-vaxxer RFK Jr. 's capability as Secretary of Health and Human Services. If the earliest days of this administration are any indication, it would seem that there is some weight to these concerns.

RFK Jr.’s confirmation seemed to be a nightmare for many public health officials, who adamantly warned that heightened anti-vaccination rhetoric could lead to disastrous disease outbreaks. Now, only a little over two weeks after Kennedy’s swearing in as HHS Secretary, their most dire forecasts seem to be coming true. Measles, a highly contagious and largely preventable disease, was considered to have been eliminated in the United States in 2000. However, it saw an abnormal resurgence in February of this year, plaguing a Texas community. The outbreak, which was first identified in early February, occurred in Gaines County, Texas, a community with a lower vaccination rate than the national average. As of February 28, the total number of cases has risen to 146 and one child has died from the disease. While most of the outbreak has largely been confined to one particular Mennonite community in west Texas, the first case of the measles in Austin in over 24 years was also reported.

With the disease rapidly spreading across Texas and New Mexico, leaving chaos in its wake, many eyes are turning to RFK Jr., wondering what his response will be to the first notable outbreak that has occurred under his leadership on public health. Kennedy’s staggered response to the outbreak has been controversial to say the least. Firstly, the nation’s top health official stated on Wednesday that the outbreak was "not unusual", a claim contested by doctors and local residents. He also went on to state that the hospitalized children in Texas were “mainly there for quarantine”, a statement that was dismissed by Lubbock children's hospital's chief medical officer, who responded by saying that many of the children being treated at the hospital had difficulty breathing. Finally, both the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the newly-appointed Secretary released statements in which they claimed that ending the measles crisis was a ‘top priority’, but neither urged people to get vaccinated for measles or any other infectious disease.

With the number of recorded measles cases in Texas and New Mexico continuing to grow, the pressure on RFK Jr. to draft real solutions for current and future outbreaks grows as well. The measles outbreak seems to be the first test of many for the Department of Health and Human Services, and it is sure to serve as an indicator for how the new leadership and directives will affect the state of health and disease control in the United States moving forward. Now more than ever, it’s likely going to be crucial that individuals do their own research on vaccination, disease prevention, and basic measures for keeping safe and healthy in a post-COVID world.