“We have measles outbreaks every year,” he added. Mr. Kennedy has also said in the past that immunizations against measles and some other infectious diseases are unnecessary and risky.

The measles outbreak in Texas has reached nearly 150 cases, according to a Friday morning update from the state health department. The agency said 146 cases have been identified since late January. Twenty of those patients have been hospitalized, and one school-age, unvaccinated child has died.

The latest update comes two days after the first death was reported in a school-aged child who lived in the outbreak area.