Adrian Hedden
Artesia Daily Press
achedden@currentargus.com

An ongoing measles outbreak crossed southern New Mexico to the western edge of the state with health officials reporting that an infected person in Doña Ana County was hospitalized April 15.

The infected individual was an unvaccinated child, according to the New Mexico Department of Health.

Doña Ana includes New Mexico’s second-largest city Las Cruces, a hub of economic activity and tourism for the southern portion of the state. Health officials warned anyone traveling to the area from a nearby county to be vaccinated.

The spread of the measles virus to the area meant it was present in four New Mexico counties, health officials said. The outbreak began in Lea County on the southeast edge of the state, spreading west into Eddy and Chaves counties in recent weeks.

As of Friday, April 18, a total of 59 people in Lea County were reportedly infected with five patients hospitalized and one fatality reported on March 6 by the New Mexico Department of Health. Officials did not release the identity, age or gender of the deceased.

Two people in Eddy County were reportedly infected, along with the single infection in Doña Ana and one in Chaves County, according to the latest data.

Of the 63 infections, 17 involved individuals in the 0-4 age range while 19 were ages 5-17, and 27 infections were reported among adults 18 and older.

About 46, or 73%, of New Mexico’s infections were among unvaccinated people while just six of the infected were vaccinated. Th vaccination status of 11 patients was unknown, records show.

The Department of Health reported that vaccinations rose in New Mexico in the wake of the outbreak, with 18,449 people getting measles vaccines between Feb. 1 and April 14, almost double the 9,863 vaccinations reported during the same period last year.

State health officials recommended vaccination with the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine for infants 6 to 11 months old who will be traveling to infected counties.

“Given how contagious measles is, we expected it to find its way from El Paso County in Texas to neighboring Doña Ana County,” said Dr. Miranda Durham, chief medical officer at the New Mexico Department of Health. “No matter where you live in New Mexico, make sure you and your family are up to date with your vaccinations.”

Where to get vaccinated

• Artesia – Eddy County Public Health Office, 1001 Memorial Dr. – 575-746-9819

• Carlsbad – Eddy County Public Health Office, 1306 W. Stevens St. – 575-885-4191

• Clovis – Curry County Public Health Office, 1216 Cameo St. – 575-763-5583

• Fort Sumner – De Baca County Public Health Office, 643 A North 5th St. – 575-355-2362

• Hobbs – Lea County Public Health Office, 1923 N. Dal Paso St. – 575-397-2463

• Lovington – Lea County Public Health Office, 302 N. 5th St. – 575-396-2853

• Portales – Roosevelt County Public Health Office, 1513 W. Fir St. – 575-356-4453

• Roswell – Chaves County Public Health Office, 200 East Chisum Street. – 575-624-6050

• Ruidoso – Lincoln County Public Health Office, 117 Kansas City Rd. – 575-258-3252

• Tucumcari – Quay County Public Health Office, 310 S. 2nd St. – 575-461-2610

Texas infections continue to rise

The measles outbreak continued to rise in West Texas, where it began in Gaines County near the New Mexico border in early February. The region reported a total of 597 cases as of the latest update (April 18) by the Texas Department of Health Services.

Gaines County led the state with 371 cases, followed by 52 in Terry County, 42 in Lubbock County, 24 in Dawson County, 19 in Yoakum County, 18 in El Paso County, 12 in Cochran County, and 11 in Lamar County.

Two deaths of children hospitalized in Lubbock were reported April 6.

Several other counties reported single-digit infections.