General
Increased Numbers of Hantavirus Cases in New Mexico in 2023 - May 24, 2023
Health Emergency Management - General
May 25, 2023
The New Mexico Department of Health has identified five cases of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) in New Mexico residents in the first five months of 2023, already exceeding the average annual case count.
Updated SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 Test Result Reporting Instructions
Health Emergency Management - General
May 18, 2023
Updated SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 Test Result Reporting Instructions
Drug Shortage of Bicillin L-A® for the Treatment of Syphilis
Health Emergency Management - General
May 9, 2023
Both the CDC and FDA are reporting national shortages of Benzathine penicillin G (Bicillin L-A®) due to increased demand: FDA Drug Shortages and CDC - STD Treatment - Drug notices. The FDA anticipates the issue will be resolved by the fourth quarter of this year. There are no emergency stockpiles of this medication and existing supplies are very limited.
New Mexico Department of Health Marks the End of the 2022-2023 Influenza Season
Health Emergency Management - General
May 2, 2023
The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) is seeing low influenza activity statewide and considers the need for seasonal precautions for the prevention of influenza to be over. Moving forward, only occasional and isolated cases of influenza are likely to occur. However, with sporadic influenza activity, it is still possible to see rare summer-time outbreaks of influenza-like illness (ILI), and COVID-19 activity remains unpredictable. ILI is defined as fever of greater than 100° F and cough and/or sore throat in the absence of another known cause. An influenza outbreak is defined as one confirmed case of influenza (by PCR test) and any other cases of ILI in the same geographic location. Since flu circulation is likely to be low outside of the main respiratory season, any rapid positive influenza results should be confirmed by PCR before declaring an outbreak. Outbreaks should be reported to the on-call epidemiologist 24/7/365 at (505) 827-0006.