Measles has sickened nearly 150 mostly unvaccinated people in rural West Texas, and a school-age child has died.

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said last week he would send Texas 2,000 doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine through its immunization program. Kennedy founded the anti-vaccine group Children’s Health Defense, but has said he would not prevent Americans from getting vaccinated.

As measles — a preventable disease the U.S. considered eliminated in 2000 — spreads through West Texas’ rural expanse, Klassen is sticking to an approach that's a key tenet for Mennonites. Family leaders are the top decision-making authority — not outside recommendations, certainly not government mandates.

The number of measles cases in Gaines County has more than doubled in a week. State officials confirmed this week an unvaccinated school-aged child died from measles in Lubbock.

in Seminole, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] The Mennonite population being affected by a measles outbreak in West Texas is part of a larger, loosely affiliated group of churches worldwide ...

The measles outbreak that began in West Texas is still growing, with exposures on university campuses and other places in San Antonio and San Marcos.