Measles

The Texas Department of State Health Services is reporting an increase of 20 measles cases since Friday. Our Samantha Larned reports that as cases continue to rise across the region, federal funding cuts are hindering response from public health departments. Today, the Texas House is expected to take up a controversial measure that would create a school voucher program for the state. The Texas Newsroom’s Blaise Gainey says eyes are on rural Republicans and how they vote.

With cuts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Texas and other states will have to spend more on public health. The biggest expense of a measles outbreak is the public health response in shutting down the outbreak.

Health experts say driving up vaccination rates in affected areas is the most effective defense against this disease

Kennedy went to Gaines County in West Texas to comfort the families who have lost two young children due to measles. Kennedy — who has a history of spreading misinformation about vaccines — spoke to to the efficacy of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. traveled to West Texas yesterday after a second child died in a Lubbock hospital from measles complications. KTTZ’s Samantha Larned reports this comes as a number of measles cases have been reported in a daycare in Lubbock County.

Lubbock Sen. Charles Perry's bill to address water scarcity across Texas passed through the state Senate unanimously this week. The City of Lubbock's health department is expected to be impacted by cuts to the CDC; Texas Public Radio's David Martin Davies reports on how this could affect response to the ongoing measles outbreak.

Katherine Wells was celebrated early during the COVID-19 pandemic. Then public health became a political litmus test.

Medical disinformation connected to the West Texas measles outbreak has created a new problem. Texas Public Radio’s David Martin Davies reports children are being treated for toxic levels of vitamin A. Our reporter Bishop Van Buren has the recap after the Texas Tech men’s basketball team’s tournament run came to an end in the Elite Eight.

The Department of Health and Human Services is pulling back $11 billion in funds allocated to state and community health departments in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This comes as Texas is trying to slow down an ongoing measles outbreak that has spread to 15 counties. Our reporter Bishop Van Buren has more on the Lubbock VA Clinic, which is awaiting renovations that would earn it the long-sought status of a healthcare center.

In Lubbock, federal grants helped hire workers to help with measles testing, vaccination to combat the outbreak that has spread to 15 counties.