Health officials in New Mexico are investigating the cause of death of an unvaccinated resident who tested positive for measles, the state's health department reported on Thursday.
The individual, from Lea County, had not sought medical care, and no additional details have been provided by the New Mexico Department of Health at this time. This marks the latest case in a growing measles outbreak in the region.
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Measles Outbreak in Lea County
Since the outbreak began, New Mexico has reported 10 confirmed measles cases, all in Lea County, a region that borders Gaines County, Texas, which is currently dealing with its own outbreak.
Texas has reported 159 cases, including one death, though officials have not confirmed any connection between the two outbreaks as of now.
Who Is Affected?
Among the 10 reported cases in New Mexico, six individuals are adults, while four are children between the ages of 5 and 17.
The health department noted that all of the cases involve individuals who were either unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination statuses.
Vaccination Remains Key to Prevention
The New Mexico Department of Health emphasized that the only effective prevention against measles, a highly contagious respiratory illness, is vaccination. In response to the outbreak, the department is offering free measles vaccinations in Lea County next week.
Health officials are urging all residents, particularly those in outbreak areas, to get vaccinated to prevent further spread of the disease.
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Written By HowNHowTo.com