NM confirms first cases of measles in three years

Officials have conducted contract tracing, according to the news release, and found the only known exposures to the public were at the Aspen Medical Center Urgent Care in Española on Sunday and Tuesday.

"The Department of Health has identified and contacted potentially exposed people to let them know what to do and any symptoms to look for," Health Secretary Patrick Allen said in a statement.

He urged anyone who was at the urgent care between 11:45 a.m. and 3 p.m. Sunday or 9:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday to call the department's help line at 833-796-8773.

“Measles is extremely contagious and can remain in the air up to two hours after a person with measles leaves the room,” Dr. Miranda Durham, the Department of Health's chief medical officer, said in a statement. "Fortunately, the measles vaccine is safe and very effective at protecting against measles."

Symptoms of measles, which can be deadly, develop seven to 21 days after exposure. They include "fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes, followed by a red spotted rash that usually starts on the head or face and spreads downward to cover the rest of the body," the Health Department said. "Complications are more common in children under 5 years old and adults over 20 years old, and can include diarrhea and ear infections, as well as more serious complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis."

The Health Department urges residents to check their vaccine records and those of family members to ensure they are up to date on the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine:

• One or more doses of MMR vaccine for preschool-age children and adults not at high risk.
• Two doses of MMR vaccine for schoolchildren and adults at high risk, including college students, health care workers and international travelers.

Vaccines are available without charge for any child in New Mexico, regardless of insurance status, under the Vaccines for Children program.