New Mexico health officials are reporting the first confirmed case of measles in the state since 2012. The one-year-old victim was released from the hospital yesterday, but health officials are taking the opportunity to remind residents to get vaccinated.
is very contagious, but it鈥檚 also very rare and completely preventable by vaccine. But when cases do occur in unvaccinated children鈥攍ike the one this week鈥攖he consequences can be serious. Measles can cause pneumonia and potentially fatal brain infections.
鈥淎ny time we have a vaccine-preventable disease like measles that pops up, everyone should be checking their own vaccination status,鈥� said State Epidemiologist Michael Landen. 鈥淭hey should check their vaccination records for themselves and their family, and they should make sure they鈥檙e up to date.鈥�
officials are undergoing a follow-up investigation to identify who was potentially exposed to the disease.
