Latest news with #ChadSmelser
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New Mexico Department of Health warns about measles during summer travel
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – As summer approaches, the New Mexico Department of Health is urging travelers to take precautions to protect themselves from measles. Due to an expected increase in visitors and community events, the DOH says the state could see more potential exposures. Story continues below Trending: In-N-Out Burger eyes property in northwest Albuquerque Sports: ECHL announces plans for professional hockey team in Rio Rancho Crime: Deming mother accused of abusing kids enters plea 'Measles is a highly contagious disease, as we can see by its spread around the country,' Dr. Chad Smelser, NMDOH acting state epidemiologist, stated in a news release. 'More people traveling in the summer emphasizes the importance of keeping you and your loved ones safe with the best-known protection—the MMR vaccine.' Smelser urges organizers of large events and summer camps to encourage participants to be up-to-date with vaccines before attending. There have been 67 measles cases reported in four counties in New Mexico. Symptoms can develop between seven and 21 days after exposure, and include fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes, followed by a red spotted rash that usually starts on the head or face and spreads downward to cover the rest of the body. If you have these symptoms and believe you were exposed to measles, call the NMDOH Helpline at 1-833-SWNURSE (1-833-796-8773) for guidance in English and Spanish from nurses. You should also contact your doctor or the emergency department first. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Health officials warn of measles spread before summer; one additional case in Doña Ana
(Courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) New Mexico health officials warned Friday that summer could worsen measles spread through exposures during community events and travel. 'Measles is a highly contagious disease, as we can see by its spread around the country,' New Mexico Department of Health Acting State Epidemiologist Dr. Chad Smelser said in a statement. 'More people traveling in the summer emphasizes the importance of keeping you and your loved ones safe with the best-known protection – the MMR vaccine.' The United States currently has 935 cases of measles, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with reports of infections in 30 of the 50 states as of Friday. NMDOH also reported an additional adult measles infection in Doña Ana County, bringing New Mexico's total to 67 cases since the outbreak began in mid-February. The vast majority of cases, 61, have been recorded in Lea County, which neighbors the outbreak's epicenter in Gaines County, Texas. The remaining cases lie in the state's southern portion: three in Eddy County, two in Doña Ana County and one in Chaves County. NMDOH Scientific laboratory tested 141 samples for measles since Feb. 1, agency spokesperson David Morgan told Source NM on Friday. Doctors have the option to use private laboratories to test samples, but any positive results must be reported to the state, Morgan told Source via email. More New Mexicans continue to seek the MMR vaccine, with 20,304 vaccinations administered between Feb. 1 and April 26, double the 10,860 given in the same time period last year. Measles is one of the most contagious diseases in the world. Symptoms include fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes and a spotty red rash. Symptoms can develop one to three weeks after an exposure, and people are contagious days before and after symptoms appear. An estimated one in five cases is serious enough to require hospitalization with severe complications such as brain swelling, blindness or death. NMODH urges anyone with symptoms or possible exposure to call the NMDOH Helpline at 1-833-796-8773 for guidance in English and Spanish about measles testing or vaccinations. Health officials are operating 10 vaccination clinics in the state's southern region, open daily, which require no appointment. There additionally, are other vaccine clinics around the state, which are listed on the state's website here. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
NMDOH: Potential measles exposure occurred at Hobbs daycare, restaurant
HOBBS, N.M. (KRQE) – Health officials say there was a potential measles exposure from an unvaccinated child with measles at multiple locations in Hobbs. Applications open in New Mexico for Summer EBT program The New Mexico Department of Health said the possible exposure may have happened at the following locations: Friday, April 4 and Tuesday, April 8, from 10:30 a.m. – 6:45 p.m. at the Kidz City Daycare at the Chooselife Church, 700 N. Dal Paso Street. Saturday, April 5, from 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the Denny's restaurant, 5114 N. Lovington Highway. As of Friday, April 11, there is a combined total of 58 confirmed cases in three southeastern New Mexico counties: Lea, Eddy, and Chaves. A Lea County resident tested positive for measles after they died. The official cause of death is still under investigation by the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator. However, the NMDOH Scientific Laboratory confirmed the presence of the measles virus. Outside of New Mexico, there have been over 700 measles cases reported nationally, including in El Paso and West Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Colorado. Due to the ongoing risk of exposure to measles, NMDOH recommends an early dose of measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine for infants aged 6-11 months who live in Lea County, or who will be traveling to Lea County or another outbreak area. 'Measles is extremely contagious; approximately 90% of unvaccinated people who come into contact with a person infected with measles will develop the disease,' Dr. Chad Smelser, New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) Medical epidemiologist, stated in a news release.'We encourage everyone to be up to date with the measles vaccine, especially anyone who is unvaccinated.' The Hobbs Public Health Office, 1923 N. Dal Paso Street offers daily walk-in MMR vaccinations with no appointment necessary during regular business hours. For more information, call 575 397-2463. If you have symptoms and believe you were possibly exposed to measles, call the NMDOH Helpline at 1-833-796-8773 for guidance by nurses in English and Spanish. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Unvaccinated adult dies after measles infection in New Mexico, health officials say
The Brief An unvaccinated adult in Lea County, New Mexico, has died after contracting measles, though the virus has not been confirmed as the cause. The 10th confirmed measles case in Lea County, with six adults and four children infected. The death follows a measles outbreak in West Texas, where 159 cases have been identified. New Mexico health officials confirmed that an unvaccinated adult from Lea County died after a measles infection, though it has not been officially listed as the cause of death. The person did not seek medical care, and few details about their age or health history have been released. The death is the 10th confirmed measles case in Lea County, a region that sits near the West Texas outbreak, where a school-age child died last week. Health officials have not linked the outbreaks, but the growing case numbers have raised concerns. By the numbers Measles is highly contagious, with the virus lingering in the air for up to two hours. The CDC reports that up to 90% of unvaccinated individuals exposed to the virus will become infected. 10 confirmed cases in Lea County, New Mexico 159 confirmed cases in West Texas At least 7 of the 10 infected in Lea County were unvaccinated CDC has sent a response team to Texas to help contain the outbreak RELATED: Measles cases rising in US, health officials say: Here's why The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is highly effective at preventing infection. The CDC recommends two doses—one at 12 to 15 months and a second at 4 to 6 years old. What they're saying Health officials are urging New Mexicans to get vaccinated, especially as cases continue to rise. Dr. Chad Smelser, the state's deputy epidemiologist, stressed the importance of immunization, saying, "We don't want to see New Mexicans getting sick or dying from measles. The MMR vaccine is the best protection against this serious disease." Meanwhile, the CDC has sent a team to Texas, where the outbreak first emerged in late January. The cause of the spread remains under investigation, though officials say low vaccination rates have contributed to the outbreak. The Source This story was reported from Los Angeles. It is based on New Mexico health department statements, CDC updates, and reporting from the Associated Press.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New Mexico adult dies of measles a week after Texas child died during outbreak
A New Mexico adult infected with measles has died, state officials said Thursday. The death comes eight days after an unvaccinated child in Texas died from the disease during a growing outbreak in the state that has infected nearly 160 people. The adult was not vaccinated and didn't seek medical help before dying, although the cause of death is still under investigation. The victim lived just across the state line from the west Texas region where the outbreak is centered. What You Need To Know About The Measles Outbreak "We don't want to see New Mexicans getting sick or dying from measles," Dr. Chad Smelser, deputy state epidemiologist, said. "The measles-mumps-rubella vaccine is the best protection against this serious disease." Read On The Fox News App The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said earlier this week it would send a team to help respond to the outbreak in Texas. The adult is the 10th person in Lea County, New Mexico, confirmed to have contracted measles. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told Fox News this week he recommended measles vaccines for community immunity during the outbreak, but he also continues to advocate for personal choice. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: Measles Outbreak Is A Call To Action For All Of Us "We're going to do what's right for the American people," Kennedy told Marc Siegel, Fox News' senior medical analyst. "We're going to be honest with the American people for the first time in history about all the tests, about all the studies, what we know, what we don't know, and that's going to anger some people who want an ideological approach to public health." The Texas Department of State Health Services said the majority of those infected are unvaccinated children. The outbreak began in late January. The CDC recommends "all children get two doses of MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine," according to its website, adding that adults who don't have "presumptive evidence of immunity should get at least one dose of MMR vaccine." The Associated Press contributed to this report. Original article source: New Mexico adult dies of measles a week after Texas child died during outbreak
