In the dusty suburbs of Seminole, Texas, they pass through cotton fields and in the relentless spring sun – Peter Hildebrand stands outside a gas station, his eyes rimmed red and his voice cracked with sadness.
“She didn’t die of measles,” he said of her daughter Daisy. “If there’s one thing you need to know, it’s that. She failed.”
8-year-old Daisy Hildebrand is the second child to die from an escalating measles outbreak in West Texas, and its conspiracy ideas have eroded and trust in public institutions is eroded.
The death was confirmed from measles by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, Hiddlebrand argues that his daughter’s death was not caused by the virus, but by her medical failure, lack of proper treatment, and bias against their faith.
The family is Mennonite and is part of a small Christian community that often emphasizes “naturopathy” over modern medicine.
Dailymail.com spoke to several locals, including young mothers, farmers and truck drivers, in a vaccine-skeptical seminolle.
They falsely argued that the vaccine contained “dangerous things,” and that big drug used them to make money.
Seminole-based Gaines County has the highest vaccine exemption in the state and in the nation. Approximately 13% of children attending local schools receive a conscientious exemption from the vaccine compared to 3% nationwide.
The Seminole, Texas, is at the heart of the outbreak of measles as anti-Baccin’s conspiracy ideas become more intense and trust in public institutions declines.
The photo above shows his wife Eva, their two children and Peter Hildebrand. They met with the Health Secretary’s anti-vaccine crusade RFK JR after the death of their daughter
Daisy Hildebrand, 8, is her second child to die of escalating measles.
Once a healthy and energetic child, Daisy fell ill about a month ago. She came down with a fever, a sore throat and eventually pneumonia.
The family tried to treat their daughter at home with cod liver oil, a popular community, to help “strengthen the immune system.”
But when it failed, they took her to the hospital.
Doctors diagnosed her with streptococci, mononucleosis, infectious viral infections and measles. She was given antibiotics and sent home.
However, within three days, her condition worsened. She rushed back to the hospital with severe pneumonia and was treated again – this time she failed.
Daisy was the second child to die in the outbreak. 6-year-old Kayley Fehr has also not been vaccinated and succumbed to the same Mennonite community a few weeks ago.
Both mark their first death from measles in the United States for the first time in 10 years.
Over 700 measles have been recorded nationwide so far this year, of which 541 have been recorded in Texas.
This number of cases are the worst since 2019 and are expected to be the worst in decades.
In the Texas outbreak, 70% of cases (over three-thirds of a third) are among children and young babies.
Measles itself is viral, but weakens the immune system and makes the patient vulnerable to fatal secondary infections, particularly pneumonia.
But Hildebrand refuses to explain that in Daisy’s case, and barely refuses to urge vaccine health officials to adopt it in the community.
‘ [MMR] The vaccine is not worth worrying about,” he added.
“My siblings’ family got it, and they’re still sick – worse than my vaccinated child. This isn’t about vaccines.”
Measles vaccines are effective in preventing infection after a single dose and 97% after two doses.
Jocelyn claims to know who has had side effects, so despite the outbreak he doesn’t want to vaccinate his children
Judy said her family doesn’t have the MMR vaccine because “doesn’t like what’s in it.”
However, without vaccinations, you are at a higher risk of suffering from measles infection. This is especially dangerous in children under the age of 5.
According to the CDC, one in five unvaccinated children are hospitalized and one in 20 suffer from pneumonia.
One in 1,000 people develop encephalitis, which can lead to swelling in the brain, convulsions, deafness, and intellectual disability, with about 1-3 people dead for every 1,000 people.
The relationship between the Mennonite community and vaccination is complicated. The Bible does not strictly prohibit vaccines, but many in the community believe it should be a personal choice.
About 3,000 people in Gaines County follow the Mennonite faith, according to figures from 2010.
At the same time, Gaines County has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the country. Only 82% of kindergarten children received the MMR vaccine, far below the 95% threshold required for immunity in the herd.
Despite the outbreak, hesitancy remains.
Healthy 2 U, a supplement shop run by Mennonite in Seminole, stocks a wealth of cod liver oil on its shelves. This is an alternative therapy promoted by vaccine skeptics as a natural defense against measles.
“I recommend it to everyone who gets sick,” says store manager Nancy, mother of 10 and grandmother of 19.
However, some still support vaccinations.
In the parking lot outside Walmart, dailymail.com met two Mennonite women, Helen and Helena. One person vaccinated their children and said that was the right thing to do, while the other said they didn’t vaccinate children who believe an infection like measles “will strengthen the immune system.”
Local designer Stephen said everyone should get vaccinated
The above shows the entryways to measles testing and vaccination centers in West Texas
With just 7,000 residents, the Seminole town is quietly tackling the trend. Outside of local testing and vaccination clinics, dailymail.com saw slower subdivisions of patients. Many people come to their blood tests to determine if they have measles antibodies.
Still, many of the towns are skeptical. Some believe the outbreak is slowing down. Others say they hear “more patients than ever.”
Local health director Zach Holbrooks said traffic to the clinics is varied and on some days there are no patients or others seeing more than 12 people.
He encourages vaccinations and calls them the best protection against hospitalization and death.
Signs around town warn of outbreaks, but they are easy to overlook.
Without large banners and public broadcasting, visitors may be completely unaware of the country’s worst measles outbreak unfolding here.
However, Hildebrand is determined to overturn reports that his daughter was killed by measles.
He recently met with RFK JR when he visited the area earlier this month. “He didn’t mention the vaccine once,” Hildebrand said. “But he was the nicest guy I’ve ever met.”
After the visit, RFK Jr wrote to X: “The most effective way to prevent the spread of measles is the MMR vaccine.”
As Daisy was placed to rest with Kaylee in a modest Mennonite church garden, her father hopes her story will cause reflexes – on vaccines, and the urgent need to care, compassion, and protect vulnerable people.
“She was my little girl,” he says softly. “And they disappointed her.”
