Southwest
New Mexico adult dies of measles a week after Texas child died during outbreak
A New Mexico adult infected with measles has died, state officials said Thursday.
The death comes eight days after an unvaccinated child in Texas died from the disease during a growing outbreak in the state that has infected nearly 160 people.
The adult was not vaccinated and didn’t seek medical help before dying, although the cause of death is still under investigation.
The victim lived just across the state line from the west Texas region where the outbreak is centered.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE MEASLES OUTBREAK
Signs point the way to measles testing in the parking lot of the Seminole Hospital District across from Wigwam Stadium Feb. 27, 2025, in Seminole, Texas. Eighty cases of measles have been reported in Gaines County with one death reported. (Jan Sonnenmair/Getty Images)
“We don’t want to see New Mexicans getting sick or dying from measles,” Dr. Chad Smelser, deputy state epidemiologist, said. “The measles-mumps-rubella vaccine is the best protection against this serious disease.”
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said earlier this week it would send a team to help respond to the outbreak in Texas.
The adult is the 10th person in Lea County, New Mexico, confirmed to have contracted measles.
A member of the medical staff administers a dose of the measles vaccine to a child at a health center in Lubbock, Texas, Feb. 27, 2025. (Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP/Getty)
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told Fox News this week he recommended measles vaccines for community immunity during the outbreak, but he also continues to advocate for personal choice.
ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.: MEASLES OUTBREAK IS A CALL TO ACTION FOR ALL OF US
“We’re going to do what’s right for the American people,” Kennedy told Marc Siegel, Fox News’ senior medical analyst. “We’re going to be honest with the American people for the first time in history about all the tests, about all the studies, what we know, what we don’t know, and that’s going to anger some people who want an ideological approach to public health.”
The Texas Department of State Health Services said the majority of those infected are unvaccinated children.
One year-old River Jacobs is held by his mother, Caitlin Fuller, while he receives an MMR vaccine from Raynard Covarrubio at a vaccine clinic by the Lubbock Public Health Department March 1, 2025, in Lubbock, Texas. (Jan Sonnenmair/Getty Images)
The outbreak began in late January.
The CDC recommends “all children get two doses of MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine,” according to its website, adding that adults who don’t have “presumptive evidence of immunity should get at least one dose of MMR vaccine.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Jurors deliberating the fate of the man accused of starting the Palisades Fire, one of the most destructive wildfires in California’s history, failed to reach a verdict Thursday afternoon, telling the judge they were deadlocked.
A spokesperson from the United States Attorney’s Office told KTLA that jurors will continue to deliberate until they reach a verdict or give up.
Jonathan Rinderknecht, 30, a former Uber driver and one-time Pacific Palisades resident, is accused of starting the Lachman Fire on New Year’s Eve. The fire continued to smolder underground for about a week, even after Los Angeles firefighters believed it had been extinguished.
Flames reignited on Jan. 7, erupting into the deadly Palisades Fire that killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes in the upscale community, authorities said.
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A courtroom sketch of Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, during his initial court appearance on Oct. 23, 2025. (Bill Robles) -
The U.S. Dept. of Justice booking photo of Jonathan Rinderknecht over the Palisades Fire devastation in Malibu, California in January 2025 (AP).
Prosecutors argued that Rinderknecht deliberately set the fire, claiming he had grown increasingly resentful of wealthy residents and viewed Pacific Palisades as a symbol of that frustration.
“Their case, though circumstantial, is strong,” KTLA legal analyst Alison Triessl said. “The defense is relying on, can they (prosecutors) show beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Rinderknecht actually started this fire and it wasn’t the result of fireworks or some intervening cause.”
The defense argued there is no direct physical evidence tying Rinderknecht to the fire and said the prosecution’s case relies entirely on circumstantial evidence. Rinderknecht did not testify during the trial.
Defense attorney Steve Haney spoke outside the courthouse Wednesday about why he believes it will be difficult for prosecutors to prove how the fire started.
“The lack of scene preservation. The fact that they got there after a lot of the evidence was missing. Not a lot of direct evidence. This is a circumstantial case, which is always difficult as a prosecutor to prove,” Haney said.
Rinderknecht, who was arrested and indicted last October, faces up to 45 years in prison if found guilty of three arson counts, including destruction of property by means of fire, arson affecting property used in interstate commerce and timber set afire.
Tony Kurzweil contributed to this report
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