New Mexico adds two additional measles cases after holiday weekend
New Mexico health officials on Tuesday reported two new cases of measles, both in Lea County, bringing the state's total to 65 measles cases this year spread across four counties.
Just over half of the cases in Lea, Eddy, Chavez and Doña Ana counties have been among children: with 18 cases in very young children aged 0 to four; 19 cases in school aged children; and 28 adult cases. The majority of cases, 61, are in Lea County, which neighbors Gaines County, Texas, the source of the outbreak that has infected more than 800 people as of Tuesday.
Texas health officials reported 624 cases Tuesday, an increase of 27 since last Friday.
The New Mexico Department of Health continues to urge vaccination, the most effective method to prevent contracting measles.
'Measles spread easily from person to person, which is why, despite small increases in positive case numbers as we saw in the past few days, we continue to encourage New Mexicans to get the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination – the best tool to protect yourself and those you love,' said NMDOH Communications Director Robert Nott.
Since Feb. 1, about 20,300 New Mexicans have received a vaccine, nearly double the 10,860 vaccinated in the same time frame last year.
Measles, a highly contagious respiratory virus, spreads through contact with airborne droplets from an infected person. Symptoms such as a cough, runny nose, eye redness, fever and spotty red rash, may take weeks to develop. Approximately one in five measles cases becomes serious enough to require hospitalization, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Infection can cause serious complications including brain swelling, blindness or death.
Six hospitalizations have transpired over the course of the outbreak: five in Lea County and one in Doña Ana county, which reported its first case last week. The case may have exposed other people to measles in a Las Cruces daycare and hospital waiting rooms in early April, according to health officials.
NMDOH requests that anyone exposed or showing symptoms call the state's measles helpline at 1-833-796-8773 for further vaccine information or measles testing available in English or Spanish.
The department and hospitals are urging any exposed patients to contact doctor's offices or emergency rooms before coming in.
In the early days of the measles outbreak, Nor-Lea Hospital in Lea County instituted procedures to prevent measles spread in the hospital, including requiring patients to mask up if experiencing symptoms or any exposures, minimizing spread and continuously disinfecting shared spaces.
Troy Clark, the CEO for the New Mexico Hospital Association, praised Nor-Lea for sharing the protocol with other hospitals, though he couldn't say how many had adopted the same protocols.
'I think the collective efforts of our hospitals across the state provide high-quality care to protect our communities, keep them safe and healthy,' Clark told Source NM. 'The means of collaboration one with another to learn from others' experiences and to provide best practices, is intact, much like it was through the coronavirus pandemic.'
Amanda Schoenberg, a spokesperson for New Mexico Presbyterian Healthcare Services, which has nine hospitals across the state, said the hospitals were following guidance from state officials in a written statement.
'At Presbyterian, we follow guidance from the New Mexico Department of Health regarding highly contagious diseases and ask that any patients who suspect they may have measles contact their health care provider before visiting a clinic or hospital setting,' Schoenberg wrote, 'If a patient arrives at a facility and measles is suspected, they would be asked to mask and be placed in an isolated area. Vaccines are highly effective in protecting against measles and we encourage community members to access MMR vaccines if they have not yet been vaccinated'
SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
4 hours ago
- CBS News
Colorado health officials confirm another case of measles, bringing total in state to 17
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has confirmed another case of measles, bringing the total number of measles cases in the state so far this year to 17. The CDPHE and the Adams County Health Department have confirmed the case of measles in a child under 5 years from Adams County. According to health officials, the child had not received the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine and traveled with their family to Chihuahua, Mexico, where there is an ongoing measles outbreak. The child remains hospitalized. The CDPHE said that anyone at the Children's Hospital Colorado Emergency Department, located at 13123 E. 16th Avenue in Aurora from 6:36 p.m. to 10:16 p.m. on Aug. 12, may have been exposed to the measles. Health officials urge anyone who was there to watch for symptoms for 21 days after exposure. That means symptoms may develop through Sept. 2. If symptoms develop, they are urged to call their health care provider, urgent care, or emergency department before going in, and tell them about the measles exposure because it helps prevent further spread. Additional Information from CDPHE: Measles symptoms begin with fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes, followed by a rash that usually starts several days later on the face and spreads. If you have not had the MMR vaccine, you can still get it within 72 hours of exposure to help prevent illness. In some exposure cases, immunoglobulin given within six days may also help prevent or lessen illness. Measles is a highly contagious, but preventable disease. Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself, your family, and your community. Please visit the CDPHE measles webpage, which includes information about symptoms, transmission, and vaccine recommendations, 2025 Colorado measles case information, and a current list of exposure locations.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Bali tourists catch disease, Aus cities on alert
A measles alert has been issued after three cases were detected in travellers who were on the same Bali flight. WA Health urged people travelling overseas to get a measles vaccination before they depart following the most recent cases. A health department spokesman said the most recent case was a traveller on Jetstar flight JQ108 which departed Perth about 6.30pm on July 22. Two other cases were reported from travellers on the same flight but were in separate parties and were not seated together. One of the infected travellers has visited multiple locations throughout Perth's south since they arrived back into Australia on Jetstar flight JQ117 at 1.30am on July 28. It follows a similar alert issued by South Australia Health, after an Adelaide man was diagnosed after holildaying in Bali. Authorities in WA are contacting people exposed at the locations, but the public is urged to check the list of exposure sites on the Department of Health website. Communicable Disease Control acting director Clare Huppatz said measles is highly contagious and it was not surprising that it had spread to other passengers who travelled on a plane with an infectious person. 'Anyone who is not immune is at risk of developing the disease if they are exposed,' she said. 'Measles can be severe for some people and can require hospitalisation, but it is preventable through vaccination. 'It's important for people to monitor for symptoms if they visited the venues on the exposure locations at the times listed.' Dr Huppatz said early symptoms included fever, tiredness, cough, runny nose, and sore eyes, followed by a red non-itchy rash three or four days later. 'The rash usually starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body,' she said. Dr Huppatz encouraged anyone planning overseas travel to see their GP or a travel doctor to discuss appropriate vaccinations prior to their trip, adding that a free MMR vaccine is available to adults who are not fully vaccinated.
Newsweek
8 hours ago
- Newsweek
Cheese Recall Over 'Rodent Activity' Sparks Diarrhea Warning
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A cheese has been recalled due to "rodent activity," with food inspectors urgently warning customers to dispose of the product to prevent risk of illnesses. Quesito El Establo of Salem, New Hampshire, on Tuesday announced the recall of its Spanish Cheese (Quesito Colombiano) manufactured in its facility and sold in Hispanic/Latino retail stores in Massachusetts. The recall affects about 2,100 items, the company told Newsweek. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) monitors observed "the presence of rodent, rodent activity, and other insanitary conditions during the manufacturing and storage process" during an inspection earlier that day, the company said. Why It Matters The FDA said the presence of rodent activity and other insanitary conditions during manufacturing and storage may have allowed contamination by salmonella, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections. The FDA recall notice listed vulnerable groups at greater risk—infants, young children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems—and described symptoms including fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. What To Know The company paused production while the agency and the firm investigated. Quesito El Establo told Newsweek via email on Wednesday the company was looking for a new site and hoped to move within three months, subject to regulatory approvals. A spokesperson said the issues raised may have been caused by "seasonal climate conditions and increased pest activity in the surrounding area," and that it had carried out deep cleaning, enhanced pest control measures, upgraded facilities, updated paperwork protocols, and retrained employees. The affected product was described as plastic-wrapped cheese placed in Ziploc bags of approximately 1 pound, featuring a blue sticker with a cow image and the words "Quesito Colombiano" in yellow. The FDA said products with the expiration code "AUG 22 2025" or earlier were included in the recall. The label attached to the packaging of the Spanish Cheese (Quesito Colombiano) being recalled. The label attached to the packaging of the Spanish Cheese (Quesito Colombiano) being recalled. Quesito El Establo/FDA The agency said that no illnesses had been reported to date. Consumers with concerns about possible salmonella symptoms have been advised to seek medical attention, especially if they belonged to high-risk groups. Consumers were advised not to consume the recalled product and to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. For questions, the company provided a contact number: 617-842-0513, Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET. What People Are Saying An Quesito El Establo spokesperson told Newsweek via email on Wednesday: "Following the FDA inspection, observations included the presence of rodents and other unsanitary conditions in certain production and storage areas. "While no laboratory tests have confirmed contamination and no illnesses have been reported, these findings may have been influenced by external factors such as seasonal climate conditions and increased pest activity in the surrounding area. "As a precaution, production was halted immediately, and we have implemented corrective actions including deep cleaning, enhanced pest control measures, facility upgrades, updated SOPs, and employee retraining to ensure the highest food safety standards moving forward." What Happens Next FDA inspectors are expected to carry out an evaluation of the health hazard. Recalls are classified into three categories to indicate the relative degree of risk. They are:
