Despite an unvaccinated child’s death, local residents in West Texas say personal choice—not public-health policy—should guide their decisions.

Using these little bumps, called fusion proteins, measles enters white blood cells and makes copies of itself. As the white blood cells travel throughout the body, they inadvertently spread the viral particles to organs such as the lungs, liver and, in rare cases, the brain.

The kindergarten vaccination rate against the measles in Gaines County is 82%, far below the 95% needed to achieve herd immunity.