*[image: Second death reported in growing measles outbreak]*
An unvaccinated New Mexico adult who tested positive for measles has died, the second death in a growing measles outbreak centered along the West Texas-New Mexico border, officials said Thursday.
The individual did not seek medical care before death, New Mexico health department officials said. The official cause of death is still under investigation by New Mexico’s Office of the Medical Investigator. However, the state health department scientific laboratory has confirmed the presence of the measles virus in the person, the state health department said.
The person was a resident of Lea County, where at least 10 cases of measles have been reported. Lea County is just over the border from Gaines County, Texas, where the outbreak is centered. Six of the Lea County cases are among adults, and four are in children. Seven of the 10 were unvaccinated and three have unknown vaccination histories.
In all, 169 cases have been reported in the two states. Officials have said the actual number is likely much higher.
State officials declined to release the person’s age, sex and underlying medical conditions or whether contact tracing is underway to identify others who may have been exposed to one of the world’s most contagious viruses. The virus is airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs.
The death follows the Feb. 26 death in Texas <www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/02/26/measles-texas-unvaccinated-death/>of an unvaccinated and otherwise healthy 6-year-old child. That death was the first measles fatality <www.washingtonpost.com/podcasts/post-reports/inside-texass-growing-measles-outbreak/> since 2015.
*This is a developing story and will be updated**.*
An unvaccinated New Mexico adult who tested positive for measles has died, the second death in a growing measles outbreak centered along the West Texas-New Mexico border, officials said Thursday.
The individual did not seek medical care before death, New Mexico health department officials said. The official cause of death is still under investigation by New Mexico’s Office of the Medical Investigator. However, the state health department scientific laboratory has confirmed the presence of the measles virus in the person, the state health department said.
The person was a resident of Lea County, where at least 10 cases of measles have been reported. Lea County is just over the border from Gaines County, Texas, where the outbreak is centered. Six of the Lea County cases are among adults, and four are in children. Seven of the 10 were unvaccinated and three have unknown vaccination histories.
In all, 169 cases have been reported in the two states. Officials have said the actual number is likely much higher.
State officials declined to release the person’s age, sex and underlying medical conditions or whether contact tracing is underway to identify others who may have been exposed to one of the world’s most contagious viruses. The virus is airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs.
The death follows the Feb. 26 death in Texas <www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/02/26/measles-texas-unvaccinated-death/>of an unvaccinated and otherwise healthy 6-year-old child. That death was the first measles fatality <www.washingtonpost.com/podcasts/post-reports/inside-texass-growing-measles-outbreak/> since 2015.
*This is a developing story and will be updated**.*
*GO HERE FOR MORE **https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/ar-AA1ApgoP <www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/ar-AA1ApgoP> *
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