Texas and New Mexico Report Second Measles Death & Nearly 230 Cases

On March 6, the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) reported its first death of an unvaccinated resident of Lea County in its ongoing measles outbreak. The individual did not seek medical care before passing, and NMDOH Scientific Laboratory confirmed the presence of the measles virus postmortem.

In addition, the state has identified 30 cases of measles since Feb. 9 in Lea County, which borders Texas. NMDOH said the increase in case numbers reflects test results from the NMDOH Scientific Laboratory Division combined with cases discovered during epidemiologic investigations of known patients. The cases did not occur simultaneously, but were identified retrospectively, with many detected only after patients had already recovered from their illness. 

“The large majority of Lea County residents are vaccinated and well-protected even if they come into contact with the virus,” said Dr. Miranda Durham, NMDOH chief medical officer. “Most confirmed measles cases involve people unvaccinated and have occurred over an extended period of time.”

Of the total measles cases in Lea County, 26 are adults and four are children under the age of 17. Most cases involved unvaccinated individuals, NMDOH said.

Additionally, on Friday, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) reported 198 measles cases have been identified since late January in the ongoing measles outbreak in nine West Texas counties. Twenty-three of the patients have been hospitalized in the state, and one unvaccinated school-aged child with no underlying conditions died on Feb. 26.

The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also said Friday it has confirmed measles cases in Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, New York City, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Washington this year as well. Still, the Texas and New Mexico outbreaks make up for most of the nation’s case count.

An outbreak is defined as three or more related cases. The CDC said three outbreaks have occurred and were reported this year, and that 93% of the reported cases are outbreak-associated. For comparison, 16 outbreaks were reported during 2024 and 69% of cases were outbreak-associated.

Measles is extremely contagious; a person with measles can infect others from four days before rash onset through four days after the rash appears. In enclosed spaces, the virus can stay in the air for two hours after an infected person has left. Symptoms start with cough, runny nose, and eye redness, then progress to fever and rash. The rash starts on the head and spreads down the body.

Vaccination is the best protection from a measles infection. One dose of vaccine is 93% effective, and two doses are 97% effective, NMDOH reported. The measles vaccine provides lifetime protection.