New Mexico's First Measles Death Under Investigation

While most of the media attention has been on west Texas's South Plains area's ongoing measles outbreak, just a few miles to the east, New Mexico is also reporting unsettling news.

On March 6, 2025, the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) confirmed that an unvaccinated resident of Lea County tested positive for measles and later died. NMDOH Scientific Laboratory has confirmed the presence of the measles virus.

The official cause of death is still under investigation by the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator. One in five cases requires hospitalization, and approximately three in every 1,000 cases result in death.

This new measles case brings the total number of cases to 10, all residents of Lea County. Seven cases were unvaccinated, while the remaining three had unknown vaccination histories. 

As of March 5, 2025, the U.S. CDC reported 164 measles cases in nine jurisdictions this year.

Globally, about 57 countries are reporting measles outbreaks.

"We don't want to see New Mexicans getting sick or dying from measles," said Dr. Chad Smelser, NMDOH Deputy State Epidemiologist, in a press release. "The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is the best protection against this serious disease"

The NMDOH wrote that measles is a highly contagious respiratory illness that can cause severe complications. Vaccination is the best prevention method.

With ongoing exposures in Lea County, NMDOH urges residents to vaccinate with MMR to protect themselves and their families. NMDOH has scheduled free measles vaccination clinics to support community protection on March 11, 2025.

More information is available on the NMDOH website at http://measles.doh.nm.gov.