General

Increased Numbers of West Nile Cases in New Mexico in 2023 - August 18, 2023

As the number of COVID-19 cases rises across the US, the New Mexico Department of Health recommends that providers prescribe Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir) to all appropriate patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Paxlovid, an oral antiviral, is a highly effective treatment for COVID-19 but continues to be under prescribed by providers1. Support for the use of Paxlovid comes from several randomized trials and observational studies of symptomatic outpatients with COVID-19, which demonstrated a reduction in hospitalization and death.

New HIV infections associated with former VIP Spa in Albuquerque - June 26, 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

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.

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.

The CDC and FDA have streamlined COVID-19 vaccine recommendations, authorizing the use of bivalent COVID-19 vaccines for all recommended doses. In addition, previously unvaccinated individuals ages 6 and older are now recommended to receive one dose of a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine, and people ages 65 and older and those with immune compromise can receive a second bivalent vaccine. The monovalent Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines are no longer authorized for use in the United States.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) recently issued an alert regarding overdose deaths in the US linked to Xylazine, a non-opioid central nervous system depressant. It is used as a sedative, anesthetic, muscle relaxant, and analgesic in veterinary medicine and has not been approved for use in humans. Xylazine is usually mixed with other illicit drugs, like fentanyl, because it causes the effects of opioids to last longer. In New Mexico, six xylazine-involved deaths were reported in the last five years. Xylazine is an unscheduled drug that is easily accessed, so its presence in the illicit drug supply may increase over time, due to its low cost. Reports indicate that xylazine, alone or in combination with other drugs, is administered by injecting, snorting, swallowing, or inhaling it.

Ongoing Drug-Resistant Shigella Infections in Albuquerque Area

Ezri Care Artificial Tears Recall

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is investigating multiple reports of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA) eye infections, which may have a common source. A total of 13 cases of CRPA eye infections from four states (including 11 cases associated with 2 clusters in 2 states) have been reported to CDC; specimen collection dates range from May 17 to December 13, 2022. Among the 11 patients for which information is available, infection types included keratitis and endophthalmitis.

NMHAN CDC Advisory: Prioritize Antivirals for Influenza

Drug Shortage Alert- Pediatric Antipyretics and Amoxicilin

CDC and FDA Authorize COVID19 Bivalent Vaccine for Youngest Children

COVID-19 Therapeutics Update: Bebtelovimab & Evusheld Pause

Increased Respiratory Activity - 2022-23 Season

Congenital Syphilis - 10/05/2022

First confirmed Candida auriscase in NM - 10/05/2022

Adverse Child Experiences in New Mexico