Measles confirmed at Luna County jail; scope of exposure unclear

NMDOH confirms five infections; 87 detainees under observation as full quarantine begins

Damien Willis, Organ Mountain News

DEMING - The New Mexico Department of Health has confirmed five cases of measles at the Luna County Detention Center in Deming, marking the first public acknowledgment of an outbreak inside the 400-bed facility.

In a press release issued Thursday, NMDOH officials said five detainees tested positive for measles and emphasized the ongoing risk to unvaccinated individuals across the state. The facility employs approximately 100 staff members.

“The cases at Luna County Detention Center are a stark reminder that the measles outbreak in New Mexico is not over,” said Dr. Chad Smelser, a medical epidemiologist with NMDOH.

Related: Measles case confirmed in Doña Ana County, prompting vaccine guidance

The agency said it is providing personal protective equipment, test kits and vaccines to the detention center, and is reviewing the vaccination status of staff and inmates. Officials did not disclose how many individuals may have been exposed, placed in isolation, released or transferred while infectious.

Measles can spread between four days before and four days after the appearance of a rash, and symptoms typically develop seven to 21 days after exposure. The virus is highly contagious, especially in confined or congregate settings.

The New Mexico Department of Health said it is providing personal protective equipment, test kits and vaccines to the facility, and is reviewing vaccination records. On Friday, Luna County’s Director of Public Safety, Pablo Montoya, told Organ Mountain News that 87 detainees remain under observation, and that the entire facility has been placed under quarantine.

“No staff members are under observation or isolation,” Montoya wrote in an email. “Vaccinations have been offered to all detainees and staff, in line with Department of Health recommendations.”

Transfers and releases are continuing during the quarantine. Montoya said detainees being released receive exit briefings, education on symptoms and guidance to follow up with the Department of Health. Those being transferred are masked and monitored, and receiving agencies are notified.

The Luna County Detention Center, located in Deming, houses detainees awaiting trial or sentencing on local charges. It also occasionally holds individuals on federal or immigration-related holds, including transfers coordinated by ICE or U.S. Marshals.

This is a developing story. OMN will update coverage as new information becomes available.

Damien Willis is founder and editor of Organ Mountain News. If you have a personal story to share or a lead we should follow up on, reach out at OrganMountainNews@gmail.com or connect with him on X at @damienwillis.