A second person has died amid a growing measles outbreak along the West Texas-New Mexico border, health officials confirmed Thursday.
The individual, an unvaccinated adult from New Mexico, tested positive for measles but did not seek medical care before passing away. The official cause of death remains under investigation by the state’s Office of the Medical Investigator.
This case follows the recent death of a six-year-old child in Texas on February 26, marking the first measles-related fatality in the US since 2015. The outbreak has primarily affected residents of Lea County, New Mexico, and Gaines County, Texas, with 169 confirmed cases across both states. However, officials believe the actual number of infections may be higher.
In Lea County, 10 measles cases have been reported—six in adults and four in children. Seven of those affected were unvaccinated, while the vaccination history of the remaining three remains unclear. Given the highly contagious nature of the measles virus, which spreads through airborne droplets when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes, health officials are urging residents to get vaccinated.
Public health experts warn that measles can lead to severe complications, including pneumonia, brain swelling, and long-term immune system suppression. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in five measles cases requires hospitalization, and approximately one to three out of every 1,000 cases result in death.
The CDC is closely monitoring the situation and continues to recommend the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine as the best protection against the virus. Health officials in New Mexico have also announced plans to hold community vaccination clinics on March 11 to help curb the outbreak.
With input from the Washington Post, Reuters, and the New York Times.
