A person who had contracted measles has passed away in New Mexico, as confirmed by state health authorities. However, the virus has not been officially cited as the cause of death. The individual who died had not received the vaccine against measles and did not receive any medical treatment. More specific details about the person’s age and other information were not disclosed.
The person diagnosed with measles lived in Lea County, located just a short distance from the west Texas area where there have been 159 confirmed measles cases, including the death of a school-aged child last week. Public health officials in New Mexico have not established a link between these cases and those in Texas.
There have been a total of 10 confirmed measles cases in Lea County, of which 7 individuals were unvaccinated. The vaccination status of the remaining 3 is uncertain. Six of the cases involve adults, while the rest are children under the age of 17.
On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that they would be sending a team to Texas to assist local health officials in their response to the outbreak, which began in late January. Measles is a respiratory virus that can remain in the air for up to two hours, making it highly contagious. The CDC reports that out of every 10 susceptible individuals exposed to measles, between 8 and 9 will likely contract the virus.
The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is considered safe and highly effective in preventing measles infection and severe illnesses. It is recommended that children receive their first MMR shot between the ages of 12 and 15 months, and their second shot between four and six years.
Dr. Chad Smelser, the Deputy State Epidemiologist, emphasized the importance of protecting New Mexicans from measles. He stated, “We don’t want to see New Mexicans getting sick or dying from this preventable disease. The measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine is the most reliable way to protect against this serious disease.”
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/06/measles-death-new-mexico
