First U.S. Measles Death in a Decade as RFK Jr. Leads HHS

DOGE (Department of Government EXTINCTION) TRACKER UPDATE

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DOGE v. Public Health

📅 Date: February 26, 2025
📰 Action:
The first U.S. measles death in over a decade has been reported in Texas, following a rapidly growing outbreak affecting more than 130 people nationwide. This public health crisis comes just weeks after RFK Jr., an outspoken vaccine skeptic, was confirmed as Trump’s Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS)—a move widely criticized by medical professionals for undermining confidence in vaccines and public health programs.

🚨 Key Developments:

• Measles Death Marks a Grim Milestone – The victim, a child in Texas, is the first confirmed measles fatality in the U.S. in over a decade, as the virus spreads in multiple states. The CDC has identified several clusters of unvaccinated individuals as the primary drivers of the outbreak.

• Anti-Vaccine Leadership at HHS Raises Alarm – RFK Jr.’s appointment as HHS Secretary has already led to an erosion of public confidence in vaccine mandates, with multiple states reporting declining childhood vaccination rates. Experts warn that this outbreak is just the beginning of a broader public health catastrophe if anti-vaccine rhetoric continues to shape federal policy.

• DOGE’s War on Public Health – The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), under Elon Musk, has already slashed funding for vaccine outreach programs, eliminated key CDC public health initiatives, and deprioritized infectious disease monitoring—moves that pave the way for preventable disease outbreaks.

🔍 Consequences:

• Resurgence of Preventable Diseases – The return of measles, once declared eradicated in the U.S., signals the potential for future outbreaks of polio, whooping cough, and other preventable illnesses if vaccination efforts continue to be weakened.

• Undermining of Public Trust in Science – With RFK Jr. leading HHS, the federal government now lacks a strong, pro-science voice advocating for vaccinations, fueling misinformation and public hesitancy.

• Federal Health Infrastructure at Risk – As DOGE continues to gut public health programs, dismantle regulatory oversight, and defund vaccine research, state and local health departments will struggle to contain outbreaks, potentially leading to widespread health crises.

📌 Sources:

• Politico: First death reported in Texas measles outbreak

• Reuters: Texas child is first reported US measles death in a decade as outbreak hits more than 130 people

• ABC News: Measles death of unvaccinated child in Texas outbreak is 1st fatality in US in a decade

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Because silence is surrender. We never surrender. We are #TheRelentless.