Health officials in New Mexico confirmed Thursday that an adult resident has died after contracting measles. While the virus has not been confirmed as the direct cause of death, officials noted that the individual, who was unvaccinated and did not seek medical care, had a confirmed case of measles.
The individual, whose exact age and other details were not released, was from Lea County, which borders West Texas, where a measles outbreak has led to 159 reported cases and the death of a school-age child last week. However, New Mexico health authorities have not connected the state’s case with the outbreak in Texas.
This death marks the 10th confirmed measles case in Lea County. Of the 10 cases, seven involved unvaccinated individuals, while the vaccination status of the remaining three is unknown. Six of those infected are adults, and the rest are children under 17.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been involved in the Texas outbreak response, with a team dispatched earlier this week to assist local health officials. The measles outbreak in Texas began in late January and has continued to spread.
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus that can remain airborne for up to two hours. According to the CDC, up to 9 out of 10 people who are not immune to the virus will contract it if exposed. The disease can lead to severe complications, including pneumonia and brain swelling, and can be fatal in some cases.
The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is recognized as safe and highly effective in preventing infection. It is recommended for children to receive the first dose between 12 and 15 months of age and the second dose between 4 and 6 years old.
“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.”