HOBBS, N.M. (KRQE) – Health officials say there was a potential measles exposure from an unvaccinated child with measles at multiple locations in Hobbs.
The New Mexico Department of Health said the possible exposure may have happened at the following locations:
- Friday, April 4 and Tuesday, April 8, from 10:30 a.m. – 6:45 p.m. at the Kidz City Daycare at the Chooselife Church, 700 N. Dal Paso Street.
- Saturday, April 5, from 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the Denny’s restaurant, 5114 N. Lovington Highway.
As of Friday, April 11, there is a combined total of 58 confirmed cases in three southeastern New Mexico counties: Lea, Eddy, and Chaves.
A Lea County resident tested positive for measles after they died. The official cause of death is still under investigation by the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator. However, the NMDOH Scientific Laboratory confirmed the presence of the measles virus.
Outside of New Mexico, there have been over 700 measles cases reported nationally, including in El Paso and West Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Colorado.
Due to the ongoing risk of exposure to measles, NMDOH recommends an early dose of measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine for infants aged 6-11 months who live in Lea County, or who will be traveling to Lea County or another outbreak area.
“Measles is extremely contagious; approximately 90% of unvaccinated people who come into contact with a person infected with measles will develop the disease,” Dr. Chad Smelser, New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) Medical epidemiologist, stated in a news release.“We encourage everyone to be up to date with the measles vaccine, especially anyone who is unvaccinated.”
The Hobbs Public Health Office, 1923 N. Dal Paso Street offers daily walk-in MMR vaccinations with no appointment necessary during regular business hours. For more information, call 575 397-2463.
If you have symptoms and believe you were possibly exposed to measles, call the NMDOH Helpline at 1-833-796-8773 for guidance by nurses in English and Spanish.