NM Confirmed measles cases continues slow growth

By Matthew Reichbach

The New Mexico Department of Health announced three additional cases of measles in the department’s Tuesday update. One of the newly confirmed cases is in Eddy County, the first case outside of Lea County.

The department said this is not a rapidly expanding outbreak and that cases have been occurring “steadily over time.” Only one case so far has required hospitalization, and one person who died had measles, though the cause of death has not yet been announced.

The newly added cases include those who were previously ill and did not have the disease identified until after the illness, per the state measles dashboard.

Most of the confirmed measles cases involve unvaccinated residents, the department said. 

“Any measles diagnosis is a concern, and we are watching every case closely,” said Dr. Miranda Durham, NMDOH Chief Medical Officer. “We are heartened by the number of New Mexicans getting vaccinated in response to this outbreak.” 

DOH said the number of people who received the measles, mumps, rubella vaccine, known as MMR, increased from 5,342 in February of 2024 to nearly 9,000 this year. A single dose of MMR provides 93 percent lifetime protection and two doses provides 97 percent lifetime protection, according to the department.

“This is not the explosive situation that we see with a pandemic where the population is unprotected,” the state measles dashboard said. “The measles cases that we have confirmed include persons with positive laboratory tests and persons who developed measles symptoms at the appropriate time following contact with a confirmed case.”

The dashboard provides the current timeline of positive cases:

• Week 1 (2/9-2/15): 14
• Week 2 (2/16-2/22): 6
• Week 3 (2/23-3/1): 6
• Week 4 (3/2-3/8): 4
• Week 5 (3/9-15): 1

Those who are unvaccinated have opportunities throughout the state to get their MMR vaccinations.

• 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Tuesday, Mar. 11 at the Hobbs Public Health Office, 1923 N. Dal Paso.
• 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Tuesday, Mar. 11 at the Lovington Public Health Office, 302 N. 5th Street
• 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Thursday, Mar. 13 at the Carlsbad Public Health Office, 1306 W. Stevens St. (575) 885-4191
• 1-4 p.m. Wednesday, Mar. 12 and Thursday, Mar. 13 at the Santa Rosa Public Health Office, 117 Camino de Vida, Suite 400. (575) 472-3211
• 8 a.m. – noon every Tuesday at the Albuquerque Midtown Public Health Office, 2400 Wellesley Dr. NE. (505) 841-4170
• 10 a.m. – noon Friday Mar. 14 at the Albuquerque Northwest Valley Public Health Office, 7704 Second St. NW. (505) 222-6500
• 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. Mar. 11-14 and Mar. 18 at the Santa Fe Public Health Office, 605 Letrado Street. (505) 476-2600
• 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the Raton Public Health Office, 226 East 4th Avenue. (575) 445-3601
• 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. every Thursday at the Española Public Health Office, 2010 Industrial Park Rd. (505) 753-2794
• 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Saturday, Mar 15 at the Gallup Public Health Office, 1919 College Drive. (505) 722-4391
• 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Tuesday, Mar. 18 at the Farmington Public Health Office, 355 
• S. Miller Ave. (505) 327-4461
• 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. Wednesday, Mar. 19 while supplies last at the Los Alamos Public Health Office, 1183 Diamond Drive, Suite D. (505) 662-4038
• 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. every Friday at the Taos Public Health Office, 1400 Werner Road. (575) 758-4719
• 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. at the Las Vegas Public Health Office, 18 Gallegos Road. (505) 425-9368 on the following days and dates:
  • Thursday, Mar. 13
  • Wednesday, Mar. 19
  • Tuesday, Mar. 25
  • Wednesday, Apr. 2
  • Wednesday, Apr. 9
  • Wednesday, Apr. 16
  • Wednesday, Apr. 23
  • Wednesday, Apr. 30

Anyone who has questions about measles or vaccinations can call the NMDOH Helpline at 1-833-796-8733.