New Mexico adult dies with measles, though cause of death isn't yet
confirmed
[March 07, 2025]
By DEVI SHASTRI
An adult who was infected with measles has died in New Mexico, state
health officials announced Thursday, though the virus has not been
confirmed as the cause.
The person who died was unvaccinated and did not seek medical care, a
state health department spokesperson said in a statement. The person’s
exact age and other details were not immediately released.
The person was from Lea County, just across the state line from the West
Texas region where 159 measles cases have been identified and a
school-age child died last week. New Mexico health officials have not
linked the outbreak there to the Texas cases.
The person is the 10th in Lea County to have a confirmed measles
infection. Seven were unvaccinated. The vaccination status of the other
three is unknown. Six of the cases are in adults and the rest are in
children younger than 17.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
announced that they were sending a team to Texas to help local public
health officials respond to the outbreak, which began in late January.
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Matt Caldwell, left, a Lubbock Fire Department official, administers
a measles, mumps and rubella vaccine to Clair May, 61, at the
Lubbock Health Department, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Lubbock,
Texas. (AP Photo/Mary Conlon)
 Measles is a respiratory virus that
can survive in the air for up to two hours. Up to 9 out of 10 people
who are susceptible will get the virus if exposed, according to the
CDC.
The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is safe and highly effective
at preventing infection and severe cases. The first shot is
recommended for children ages 12 to 15 months, and the second for
ages 4 to 6 years.
“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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