CHILDREN IN THE CAR. TONIGHT, TWO MORE CONFIRMED CASES OF MEASLES IN NEW MEXICO FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SANDOVAL COUNTY. THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH REVEALING THOSE PEOPLE WERE IN ALBUQUERQUE, RIO RANCHO AND CEDAR CREST BEFORE BEING DIAGNOSED. ALIYAH CHAVEZ JOINS US LIVE. YEAH, WE’RE HERE AT PRESBYTERIAN RUST MEDICAL CENTER. AND OFFICIALS TELLING US THAT THOSE TWO CASES WERE IDENTIFIED HERE. IT IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE MOST CONTAGIOUS VIRUSES WE HAVE OUT THERE. HEALTH EXPERTS SAY MEASLES SPREADS THROUGH THE AIR WHEN AN INFECTED PERSON COUGHS OR SNEEZES, TAKING 7 TO 14 DAYS TO DEVELOP SYMPTOMS, USUALLY STARTING WITH A COUGH, RUNNY NOSE AND RED EYES, THEN PROGRESSING TO A FEVER AND TYPICAL RASH OF MEASLES STARTS ON THE HEAD AND MOVES DOWN, WHICH DOES DIFFERENTIATE IT FROM SOME OTHER RASHES. PEOPLE WITH THE DISEASE CAN INFECT OTHERS. FOUR DAYS BEFORE THE RASH APPEARS, AND FOUR DAYS AFTER IT’S GONE, MEASLES CAN CAUSE SERIOUS COMPLICATIONS LIKE PNEUMONIA OR BRAIN SWELLING AND EVEN DEATH. THE BEAUTIFUL THING IS, WE HAVE AN EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE VACCINE FOR IT. EXPERTS LINKING THIS OUTBREAK TO LOW VACCINATION RATES. HERD IMMUNITY IS REACHED WHEN 95% OF THE GENERAL POPULATION IS VACCINATED AGAINST MEASLES. NEARLY ALL THE CASES OF PEOPLE THAT ARE HOSPITALIZED, AND THE FEW CASES OF DEATH THAT WE’VE SEEN ARE IN THOSE THAT ARE UNVACCINATED. PRESBYTERIAN DOCTOR ALEX EVANOVICH SAYS TWO DOSES OF THE MMR VACCINE PROVIDES THE BEST PROTECTION. WE’VE BEEN GIVING THIS VACCINE FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS. IT IS NOT A NEW VACCINE. IT IS A TRIED AND TRUE SAFE VACCINE THAT HAS BEEN OUT FOR OVER 30 YEARS. CHILDREN ABLE TO GET VACCINATED AT 12 MONTHS OLD, THEN RECEIVING A SECOND DOSE AROUND 4 OR 5. FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNDER SIX MONTHS. DOCTORS, SAVANOVIC SAYS YOU SHOULD MINIMIZE THEIR EXPOSURE TO OTHERS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. IF YOU DO ACTIVITIES, TRY TO DO THEM OUTSIDE WHERE AT LEAST, AT LEAST HERE IN NEW MEXICO, WE HAVE WIND TO CARRY AWAY SOME OF THE AIR DROPLETS. AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE ADULTS AND MAY NOT HAVE VACCINATION RECORDS, OR REMEMBER IF THEY GOT A DOSE, THEY CAN GET ANOTHER DOSE OF THE VACCINE. GETTING AN EXTRA DOSE IF THEY HAD VACCINES AS CHILD, AS A CHILD IS AGAIN SAFE AND EFFECTIVE, STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY YOU MAY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO THESE NEW CASES IF YOU VISITED ANY OF THE LOCATIONS YOU SEE ON YOUR SCREEN, WHICH INCLUDES IN RIO RANCHO, NORTHEAST ALBUQUERQUE AND CEDAR CREST. YOU CAN FIND FULL DATES AND TIMES OF THOSE POTENTIAL EXPOSURES ON OUR WEBSITE. THESE NEW CASES, OF COURSE, OF MEASLES, ARE IN ADDITION TO OTHERS IN CHAVEZ, CURRY, DONA ANA EDDY AND LEA COUNTIES, BRINGING THE TOTAL TONIGHT TO 73. REPORTING IN ALBUQUERQUE, ALIYAH CHAVEZ KOAT ACTION SEVEN NEWS. IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS AND BELIEVE YOU WERE EXPOSED, CALL THE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN FOR GUIDANCE ON WHAT TO DO. NOW. IF YOU’RE GOING TO AN ER, YOU MAY NEED TO CALL AHEAD S
Measles cases detected in Sandoval County
Updated: 11:05 AM MDT May 16, 2025
The New Mexico Department of Health has confirmed the first cases of measles in Sandoval County. The health department says two cases have been reported, an adult with an unknown vaccination status and an unvaccinated child under 4 years old. The health department advises others may have been exposed to measles in the following locations:Presbyterian Rust Hospital Emergency Department 2400 Unser Boulevard SE in Rio RanchoWednesday, April 30 between 12:00 pm and 5:30 pmPresbyterian Rust Medical Center Hematology/Oncology Clinic2400 Unser Blvd. SE in Rio RanchoThursday, May 1 between 2:00 pm and 4:30 pmTrader Joe’s Grocery Store8928 Holly Avenue NE in AlbuquerqueTuesday, May 6 between 10:30 am and 1:00 pmRibs Hickory Pit BBQ12220 NM State Road 14 in Cedar CrestSaturday, May 10 between 12:00 pm and 3:00 pmMeasles can start with a cough, runny nose and eye redness. Symptoms can progress to fever and a rash that works its way from the head down. Health officials say measles can be spread before a rash appears on an infected person. Those who are infected can remain contagious four days after the rash is gone. In New Mexico, there have been a total of 73 cases reported by the New Mexico Department of Health. Experts urge people, who may need to an emergency room visit, to call ahead if they think they’ve been exposed to measles as the disease is very contagious.
The New Mexico Department of Health has confirmed the first cases of measles in Sandoval County.
The health department says two cases have been reported, an adult with an unknown vaccination status and an unvaccinated child under 4 years old.
The health department advises others may have been exposed to measles in the following locations:
- Presbyterian Rust Hospital Emergency Department
2400 Unser Boulevard SE in Rio Rancho
Wednesday, April 30 between 12:00 pm and 5:30 pm
- Presbyterian Rust Medical Center Hematology/Oncology Clinic
2400 Unser Blvd. SE in Rio Rancho
Thursday, May 1 between 2:00 pm and 4:30 pm
- Trader Joe’s Grocery Store
8928 Holly Avenue NE in Albuquerque
Tuesday, May 6 between 10:30 am and 1:00 pm
- Ribs Hickory Pit BBQ
12220 NM State Road 14 in Cedar Crest
Saturday, May 10 between 12:00 pm and 3:00 pm
Measles can start with a cough, runny nose and eye redness. Symptoms can progress to fever and a rash that works its way from the head down.
Health officials say measles can be spread before a rash appears on an infected person. Those who are infected can remain contagious four days after the rash is gone.
In New Mexico, there have been a total of 73 cases reported by the New Mexico Department of Health.
Experts urge people, who may need to an emergency room visit, to call ahead if they think they’ve been exposed to measles as the disease is very contagious.
