Federal inmate at Hidalgo County detention center tests positive for measles

A federal inmate held in the Hidalgo County Detention Center was reported Feb. 24 as New Mexico’s first confirmed measles case of 2026, and state health officials said a separate federal inmate at the Doña Ana County Detention Center tested positive on March 4, bringing the statewide 2026 total to six. The March 4 update from the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) followed an Feb. 27 release that had raised the tally to five.

NMDOH’s Feb. 27 news release said four additional federal inmates in southern New Mexico detention facilities tested positive on that date: two inmates at the Luna County Detention Center, one at the Doña Ana County Detention Center, and one at the Hidalgo County Detention Center, bringing the count at that time to five. Source NM reported those facility details on March 2 and reiterated that the Feb. 24 Hidalgo case had an unknown vaccination status.

State epidemiology officials urged vaccination and containment. Dr. Chad Smelser, deputy state epidemiologist for NMDOH, said, “These new infections serve as a reminder that measles can spread rapidly and that the best prevention against this virus is the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) shot. We encourage everyone eligible to receive vaccine, including those who work in correctional facilities and other congregate settings, to get vaccinated.” NMDOH also stated it “has not identified any public locations where exposure may have occurred and is coordinating with all the facilities to assure all quarantine, isolation, testing and vaccination protocols are followed to minimize risk of measles spread.”

Federal and advocacy responses were noted by national health coverage. Infectiousdiseaseadvisor quoted Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, saying, “Medical staff is continuing to monitor the detainees’ conditions and will take appropriate and active steps to prevent further infection,” and that “all detainees are being provided with proper medical care.” The same reporting referenced advocates’ concerns that “the virus could spread quickly inside the crowded facility” and said U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro visited the center and is seeking answers.

The NMDOH press materials and Source NM provide public guidance and contacts: state health officials advise anyone with symptoms or possible exposures to call the state helpline at 1-833-796-8773 to speak to a nurse in English or Spanish, and the NMDOH press release listed Robert Nott as media contact with the instruction to “Simply contact Robert Nott at (Office) with your questions.” The press release also includes a Spanish translation notice: “En un esfuerzo para hacer que nuestros comunicados de prensa sean más accesibles, también tenemos disponibles una versión en español. Por favor presione el enlace de abajo para acceder a la traducción.”

Public-health context framed the cluster in recent trends. NMDOH noted New Mexico reported 100 measles cases during a 2025 outbreak that ran from mid-February to mid-September. National reporting cited CDC figures as of early 2026 showing more than 580 measles cases, including 17 hospitalizations, with last year’s U.S. total exceeding 2,260 cases across 44 states; national coverage also emphasized that “about 9 out of 10 unvaccinated people exposed to the virus become infected.”

NMDOH said it will continue coordinating with Hidalgo, Luna and Doña Ana detention facilities on quarantine, isolation, testing and vaccination protocols while investigators track any additional cases; officials have not identified public exposure sites linked to the inmate cases.