Unvaccinated adult dies after measles infection in New Mexico, health officials say | FOX 2 Detroit
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Unvaccinated adult dies after measles infection in New Mexico, health officials say

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Published  March 6, 2025 10:07pm EST
Health
FOX TV Digital Team

More measles cases reported across the country

Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, Infectious Disease Expert, joins LiveNOW from FOX to talk about more measles cases being reported across the country. According to the CDC, there were more than 160 cases reported.

The Brief

    • An unvaccinated adult in Lea County, New Mexico, has died after contracting measles, though the virus has not been confirmed as the cause.
    • The 10th confirmed measles case in Lea County, with six adults and four children infected.
    • The death follows a measles outbreak in West Texas, where 159 cases have been identified.

New Mexico health officials confirmed that an unvaccinated adult from Lea County died after a measles infection, though it has not been officially listed as the cause of death. The person did not seek medical care, and few details about their age or health history have been released.

The death is the 10th confirmed measles case in Lea County, a region that sits near the West Texas outbreak, where a school-age child died last week. Health officials have not linked the outbreaks, but the growing case numbers have raised concerns.

How bad is the measles outbreak?

By the numbers:

Measles is highly contagious, with the virus lingering in the air for up to two hours. The CDC reports that up to 90% of unvaccinated individuals exposed to the virus will become infected.

  • 10 confirmed cases in Lea County, New Mexico
  • 159 confirmed cases in West Texas
  • At least 7 of the 10 infected in Lea County were unvaccinated
  • CDC has sent a response team to Texas to help contain the outbreak

RELATED: Measles cases rising in US, health officials say: Here's why

The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is highly effective at preventing infection. The CDC recommends two doses—one at 12 to 15 months and a second at 4 to 6 years old.

A tray of the MMR vaccine at a vaccine clinic put on by Lubbock Public Health Department on March 1, 2025 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by Jan Sonnenmair/Getty Images)

How are health officials responding?

What they're saying:

Health officials are urging New Mexicans to get vaccinated, especially as cases continue to rise. Dr. Chad Smelser, the state’s deputy epidemiologist, stressed the importance of immunization, saying, "We don’t want to see New Mexicans getting sick or dying from measles. The MMR vaccine is the best protection against this serious disease."

Meanwhile, the CDC has sent a team to Texas, where the outbreak first emerged in late January. The cause of the spread remains under investigation, though officials say low vaccination rates have contributed to the outbreak.

The Source: This story was reported from Los Angeles. It is based on New Mexico health department statements, CDC updates, and reporting from the Associated Press.

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