The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) recently declared the state’s measles outbreak, which started in February 2025, to be over, as the last case was reported in Santa Fe County in mid-August.
According to the U.S. CDC, measles outbreaks are considered ‘over’ when 42 days pass without new cases, a timeframe that represents twice the virus’s maximum incubation period.
One hundred cases of measles were identified during this outbreak, which was New Mexico’s largest in decades. The outbreak began in Lea County, likely from exposures to an outbreak in neighboring Texas.
“We are thankful to the thousands of New Mexicans who received their measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine,” said Dr. Chad Smelser, NMDOH acting state epidemiologist, in a press release on September 26, 2025.
“Fully vaccinated people and those who got caught up with their vaccines during this outbreak prevented it from spreading further.”
New Mexicans received over 56,000 MMR vaccines since February. The MMR vaccine remains widely available in New Mexico clinics and pharmacies for anyone who wishes to receive it.