The measles outbreak has surpassed 1,000 cases, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed Friday, a grim milestone that has only been achieved twice in the last 30 years.
Three people have died in the outbreak, according to the CDC, including two school-aged children in Texas. Children under 5 account for roughly one-third of the 1,001 cases, the majority of which have been recorded in Texas. Nearly all patients — 96 percent — were unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status.
The new figure comes as HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has repeatedly delivered mixed messages about the outbreak — saying the vaccine is the best way to prevent measles while spreading misinformation about the shot, including saying it contains aborted fetus debris…