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By Gabe Whisnant
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A measles-infected adult has died in New Mexico, state health officials announced Thursday, though it has not been confirmed whether the virus was the direct cause of death.
The individual, who was unvaccinated and did not seek medical care, was from Lea County, located near the West Texas region, where a measles outbreak has resulted in 159 cases and the death of a school-age child last week. While New Mexico officials have not linked their cases to the Texas outbreak, the deceased individual marks the 10th confirmed measles case in Lea County, with seven of those infected being unvaccinated.
"We don't want to see New Mexicans getting sick or dying from measles," said Dr. Chad Smelser, the deputy state epidemiologist. "The measles-mumps-rubella vaccine is the best protection against this serious disease."
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Growing Concerns Over Measles Spread
On Tuesday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced it was deploying a team to Texas to assist local health officials in containing the outbreak, which began in late January.
Measles, a highly contagious respiratory virus, can survive in the air for up to two hours, and 9 out of 10 unvaccinated individuals exposed to it will contract the virus. According to the CDC, measles cases have been reported in 10 U.S. states since the beginning of 2025.
Health officials continue to urge vaccination, emphasizing that the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is safe and highly effective in preventing infection and severe illness. The first dose is recommended for children between 12 to 15 months, with a second dose administered between ages 4 to 6.
Pulmonary internal medicine and critical care doctor Panagis Galiatsatos said the outbreak poses a risk for adults in the more vulnerable population. "Those individuals should talk to their primary care clinician about if they're a good candidate for boosting themselves," he said.
Texas Measles Outbreak Update
A measles outbreak in west Texas has been linked to a Mennonite community with low vaccination rates.
As of February 28, Texas has reported 146 cases, with 20 hospitalizations. One measles-related death has been reported, marking the first U.S. measles fatality since 2015.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), called the outbreak a "call to action."
In a press conference, he pushed for parents to consider vaccination, saying the MMR vaccine is critical to avoid the spread.
"All parents should consult with their healthcare providers to understand their options to get the MMR vaccine," Kennedy wrote in an op-ed published on Fox News Digital. "The decision to vaccinate is a personal one. Vaccines not only protect individual children from measles, but also contribute to community immunity, protecting those who are unable to be vaccinated due to medical reasons."
Reporting by the Associated Press contributed to this article.
Update: 3/6/25, 5:55 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update: 3/6/25, 6:39 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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