On May. 15, 2025, the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) confirmed the first measles cases in Sandoval County: an adult of unknown vaccination status and an unvaccinated child under the age of four.

Measles symptoms start with a cough, runny nose, and eye redness, and then progress to fever and rash that starts working its way from the head down. People with measles can infect others from four days before the rash appears and still be contagious four days after the rash is gone.

Measles is highly contagious and new cases are being reported from counties bordering Texas with a growing incidence across the state. Due to the ongoing risk of exposure to measles, New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) recommends a dose of measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine for infants aged 6-11 months who live in Doña Ana County, or who will be traveling to Doña Ana and Lea Counties.

People who are infected will begin to have symptoms within a week or two after being exposed. One in five cases requires hospitalization, and approximately three in every 1,000 cases result in death.

In addition to Sandoval County, measles cases have been diagnosed in Chaves, Curry, Doña Ana, Eddy and Lea counties. With these latest cases, the statewide total rises to 73 of the more than 1,000 nationwide.