DEMING – New Mexico health officials have confirmed the state’s first measles case of 2026, involving a federal inmate housed at the Hidalgo County Detention Center. According to KOB-TV, the positive test was confirmed Tuesday, marking the first reported case in the state this year.
State data shows New Mexico recorded 100 measles cases in 2025, with the first case last year identified February 11 in Lea County. Health officials say they are monitoring the current case and assessing potential exposure within the facility.
Nationally, measles cases have already been reported in multiple states since January, with several dozen confirmed infections across the country. Public health experts note that outbreaks tend to occur in clusters, often in communities with lower vaccination rates. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that measles remains highly contagious, spreading through respiratory droplets and lingering in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area.
Measles symptoms typically develop seven to 21 days after exposure. Early signs include fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes, followed by a distinctive red rash that generally begins on the face and spreads downward across the body.
Health officials urge anyone experiencing symptoms or who believes they may have been exposed to contact the New Mexico Department of Health Helpline at 1-833-796-8773 before seeking in-person care, to help prevent further spread.