Report: Measles Outbreak in New Mexico Cost $5.4 Million

The measles outbreak in New Mexico cost nearly $5.4 million to contain in 2025, according to new research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

The Details: The study showed that $54,522 was spent per measles case in New Mexico, totaling to roughly $1,817 per person who came into contact with the disease. This cost included expenses for medical care, public health services and lost productivity, which was used to treat 57 adult patients, caregivers of the 43 infected children, 205 exposed and quarantined contacts and 133 public health responders. Researchers noted the reported costs may be over- or underestimated due to incomplete reporting.

For Context: Between February and September 2025, New Mexico had 100 measles cases, including one death. In 2026, there have been over 2,300 measles cases reporting – the highest annual case count since 1991.

Vaccine Hesitancy: The Hill (Center bias) reported that part of the increase in measles cases in "vaccine disinformation that has sparked hesitancy in immunizations." It quoted Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. urging people to get the measles vaccine. The Independent (Lean Left) emphasized the community burden of measles outbreaks and the influence from those who are unvaccinated. It said the study highlighted "the enormous financial toll" of a disease that's "largely preventable through vaccination." CBS News (Lean Left) emphasized the financial impact of the outbreak and said that it costs more to vaccinate people during an outbreak than it is to get vaccinated beforehand.

AllSides did not find coverage from outlets on the right.

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