Mexican Man Dies of Measles at the U.S. Border

First death in Mexico linked to current measles outbreak

Victim was unvaccinated and diabetic

Chihuahua has the highest number of cases

A 31-year-old Mexican man died of measles on Friday in the border state of Chihuahua.

The victim had not been vaccinated against the disease and also suffered from poorly controlled diabetes.

“We’ve confirmed one measles-related death,” said the state health secretary, Gilberto Baeza Mendoza.

“It’s a 31-year-old man with severe complications from diabetes, very poorly controlled diabetes, he got measles, and of course he was not vaccinated.”

Mexico reports first measles death

First death from the current measles outbreak confirmed in Chihuahua.
It involves a 31-year-old unvaccinated man. https://t.co/vjtcl21lqa

-Joaquín López-Dóriga (@lopezdoriga) April 11, 2025

According to health officials, this is the first death in Mexico linked to the current measles outbreak.

The case occurred in Ciudad Juárez, a city that borders Texas, where a number of infections have also been reported.

YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN: Measles Alert in New York: Vaccination Recommendations for Travelers Amid Active Outbreak

According to the official report, the man sought medical care too late and was treated at a private hospital.

“He arrived late, complications arose due to his underlying conditions—his diabetes—and unfortunately he died. We confirmed it as a measles case, hence the importance of vaccination,” emphasized Baeza Mendoza.

The combination of symptoms, lack of vaccination, and his chronic illness worsened his condition, ultimately leading to death.

Mexico’s Health Ministry confirmed 126 measles cases as of April 4, according to EFE.

Of those, 121 were reported in Chihuahua, four in Oaxaca, and one in Sonora, which borders Arizona.

According to the same bulletin, two cases were imported, 21 were linked to international exposure, and 103 are still under investigation.

The news comes just days ahead of the first “National Vaccination Week 2025,” scheduled for April 26 to May 3.

The campaign aims to stop the virus’s spread amid a growing global anti-vaccine movement. Meanwhile, alarms have also been raised in the United States.

The U.S. has reported 481 measles cases so far this year, along with two recent deaths, including that of a young girl.

These are the first measles-related deaths in the US in over a decade.