Latest news with #NewMexicoDepartmentOfHealth
Al Arabiya
10 hours ago
- Health
- Al Arabiya
New Mexico Announces Measles Outbreak in a County Detention Facility
Five people who are incarcerated at a New Mexico county detention facility have measles, the state health department said Thursday. The Luna County Detention Center, located in the southwest New Mexico city of Deming, houses about 400 incarcerated people and has 100 staff members. State health officials say they are determining the vaccination status of people being held at the facility and are providing testing kits and equipment. As of Friday, the US has 1,227 measles cases nationwide as of Tuesday, including active outbreaks in 12 states. The highly contagious and vaccine-preventable illness has been spreading in New Mexico since February, starting first in Lea County – just across the border from the epicenter of the historic Texas outbreak that has sickened 750 people since late January. New Mexico had 81 confirmed measles cases Tuesday, with Thursday's announcement bringing the total to 86. One state resident died of measles in March. The adult was unvaccinated and did not seek medical care. '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 the New Mexico Department of Health. 'We urge everyone in New Mexico, especially Luna County residents, to ensure that they are fully vaccinated against measles.' Health officials put out an alert June 17 about measles being found in Deming's wastewater system, an early sign that the virus was spreading. Pablo Montoya, the facility's warden, said in a statement that the first signs of illness started a week ago and all five incarcerated people who tested positive are now in quarantine. All in-person visits are suspended, and court hearings will be held virtually. New Mexico has seen a large increase in measles vaccinations since February. More than 37,500 doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine had been administered as of Monday, state data shows, compared to about 19,300 in the same timeframe of 2024. The measles vaccine is safe, and it is ninety-seven percent effective at protecting against measles after two doses. It is recommended as a routine vaccination for children across the US.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
New Mexico announces measles outbreak in a county detention facility
Five people who are incarcerated at a New Mexico county detention facility have measles, the state health department said Thursday. The Luna County Detention Center, located in the southwest New Mexico city of Deming, houses about 400 incarcerated people and has 100 staff members. State health officials say they are determining the vaccination status of people being held at the facility and are providing testing kits and equipment. As of Friday, the U.S. has 1,227 measles cases nationwide as of Tuesday, including active outbreaks in 12 states. The highly contagious and vaccine-preventable illness has been spreading in New Mexico since February, starting first in Lea County — just across the border from the epicenter of the historic Texas outbreak that has sickened 750 people since late January. New Mexico had 81 confirmed measles cases Tuesday, with Thursday's announcement bringing the total to 86. One state resident died of measles in March. The adult was unvaccinated and did not seek medical care. '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 the New Mexico Department of Health. 'We urge everyone in New Mexico, especially Luna County residents, to ensure that they are fully vaccinated against measles.' Health officials put out an alert June 17 about measles being found Deming's wastewater system, an early sign that the virus was spreading. Pablo Montoya, the facility's warden, said in a statement that the first signs of illness started a week ago and all five incarcerated people who tested positive are now in quarantine. All in-person visits are suspended and court hearings will be held virtually. New Mexico has seen a large increase in measles vaccinations since February. More than 37,500 doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine had been administered as of Monday, state data shows, compared to about 19,300 in the same timeframe of 2024. The measles vaccine is safe and it is 97% effective at protecting against measles after two doses. It is recommended as a routine vaccination for children across the U.S. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
The Independent
10 hours ago
- Health
- The Independent
New Mexico announces measles outbreak in a county detention facility
Five people who are incarcerated at a New Mexico county detention facility have measles, the state health department said Thursday. The Luna County Detention Center, located in the southwest New Mexico city of Deming, houses about 400 incarcerated people and has 100 staff members. State health officials say they are determining the vaccination status of people being held at the facility and are providing testing kits and equipment. As of Friday, the U.S. has 1,227 measles cases nationwide as of Tuesday, including active outbreaks in 12 states. The highly contagious and vaccine-preventable illness has been spreading in New Mexico since February, starting first in Lea County — just across the border from the epicenter of the historic Texas outbreak that has sickened 750 people since late January. New Mexico had 81 confirmed measles cases Tuesday, with Thursday's announcement bringing the total to 86. One state resident died of measles in March. The adult was unvaccinated and did not seek medical care. '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 the New Mexico Department of Health. 'We urge everyone in New Mexico, especially Luna County residents, to ensure that they are fully vaccinated against measles.' Health officials put out an alert June 17 about measles being found Deming's wastewater system, an early sign that the virus was spreading. Pablo Montoya, the facility's warden, said in a statement that the first signs of illness started a week ago and all five incarcerated people who tested positive are now in quarantine. All in-person visits are suspended and court hearings will be held virtually. New Mexico has seen a large increase in measles vaccinations since February. More than 37,500 doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine had been administered as of Monday, state data shows, compared to about 19,300 in the same timeframe of 2024. The measles vaccine is safe and it is 97% effective at protecting against measles after two doses. It is recommended as a routine vaccination for children across the U.S. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Associated Press
10 hours ago
- Health
- Associated Press
New Mexico announces measles outbreak in a county detention facility
Five people who are incarcerated at a New Mexico county detention facility have measles, the state health department said Thursday. The Luna County Detention Center, located in the southwest New Mexico city of Deming, houses about 400 incarcerated people and has 100 staff members. State health officials say they are determining the vaccination status of people being held at the facility and are providing testing kits and equipment. As of Friday, the U.S. has 1,227 measles cases nationwide as of Tuesday, including active outbreaks in 12 states. The highly contagious and vaccine-preventable illness has been spreading in New Mexico since February, starting first in Lea County — just across the border from the epicenter of the historic Texas outbreak that has sickened 750 people since late January. New Mexico had 81 confirmed measles cases Tuesday, with Thursday's announcement bringing the total to 86. One state resident died of measles in March. The adult was unvaccinated and did not seek medical care. '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 the New Mexico Department of Health. 'We urge everyone in New Mexico, especially Luna County residents, to ensure that they are fully vaccinated against measles.' Health officials put out an alert June 17 about measles being found Deming's wastewater system, an early sign that the virus was spreading. Pablo Montoya, the facility's warden, said in a statement that the first signs of illness started a week ago and all five incarcerated people who tested positive are now in quarantine. All in-person visits are suspended and court hearings will be held virtually. New Mexico has seen a large increase in measles vaccinations since February. More than 37,500 doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine had been administered as of Monday, state data shows, compared to about 19,300 in the same timeframe of 2024. The measles vaccine is safe and it is 97% effective at protecting against measles after two doses. It is recommended as a routine vaccination for children across the U.S. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Vaccinated adults among latest measles cases in Sandoval County
May 23—Health officials on Friday reported two additional measles cases in Sandoval County, bringing the total number of infections there to six, all since May 15. Sandoval County residents infected this week include an infant too young to be vaccinated and three adults who each had received at least one dose of the measles vaccine. The New Mexico Department of Health also alerted the public to multiple sites in Albuquerque and Santa Fe where those with the virus traveled to, posing an exposure risk to others. The new infections bring to 78 the total number of measles cases statewide. The six recent Sandoval County infections suggest that New Mexico's measles outbreak is moving closer to Albuquerque. Health officials recommend the mumps, measles and rubella (MMR) vaccine as the best protection against the viral illness. Measles is one of the most contagious known viruses. Viral particles can stay suspended in the air for up to two hours in an enclosed area. The recent infections may have exposed people at five sites in Albuquerque and two in Santa Fe from May 2-17. The Albuquerque locations are: Longhorn Steakhouse, 6600 Menaul NE, on Saturday, May 2, from 1-5 Mexico Grill & Seafood, 5220 Eubank NE, on Sunday, May 4, from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 of New Mexico Hospital Pediatric Emergency Department, 2211 Lomas NE, on Sunday, May 4, from 9-11 Hospital General Pediatric Unit on Wednesday, May 14, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 6-8 areas of the UNM Hospital Pavilion between Wednesday, May 7, and Thursday, May 15. The agency also alerted the public to two sites in Santa Fe. They are: Walmart, 5701 Herrera Drive, on Saturday, May 17, from 7:30 to 10 Santa Fe Medical Center Emergency Department, 4801 Beckner Road, on Saturday, May 17, from 6-9 a.m. If you were at any of these locations, check your vaccination status and report any measles symptoms in the next 21 days to your health care provider, the Department of Health advised. Sandoval has joined Lea, Doña Ana and Curry counties as those most affected, which impacts vaccine recommendations for residents in those areas, health officials said at a news conference this week. Health officials recommend the MMR vaccine for infants ages 6 to 11 months who live in areas of high measles activity, or plan to travel to other places in the U.S. or internationally, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Miranda Durham said. For adults who live in the most affected areas, two doses of MMR vaccine are recommended, Durham said. Initial symptoms are fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes that last for two to four days. Then a rash develops that typically starts on the head and spreads down across the body. If you develop symptoms, stay home to prevent further spread and contact your healthcare provider or the NMDOH Helpline at 1-833-SWNURSE (1-833-796-8773) for further guidance.
