By Staff Writer: Kayla Reichenbach
The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) has confirmed three cases of measles in Lea County, officially declaring an outbreak on Feb. 14. This follows a surge in neighboring Gaines County, Texas, where cases jumped from two to 48 in just two weeks. While officials suspect a link, no direct connection has been confirmed.
Measles is a highly contagious airborne disease that can linger in the air for up to two hours. Symptoms—fever, cough, runny nose, and a red, blotchy rash—can appear 7 to 21 days after exposure. Serious complications can include pneumonia, brain swelling, and, in rare cases, death.
Before the measles vaccine was introduced in 1963, millions of Americans were infected yearly. The disease was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, but cases have been rising again as immunization rates decline. In 2024, the U.S. saw an increase in outbreaks, including a cluster of more than 60 cases in Chicago.
Health officials identified potential exposure sites in Hobbs between Feb. 6-11, including schools, grocery stores, and churches. In response, health departments set up free vaccine and treatment clinics in an attempt to stop the spread of measles throughout New Mexico, stating that measles is preventable with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, which is highly effective when given in two doses.