2009 H1N1 Influenza (Swine Flu)

Situation Update

November 18, 2009 3:00 pm MST

Each week DOH analyzes information about influenza disease activity in New Mexico and publishes findings of key flu indicators. Please bookmark this page and visit often; we will be updating information here frequently. MORE KEY FLU INDICATORS >>

Vaccine Information

Starting this week, the New Mexico Department of Health will expand the H1N1 vaccine priority groups to include adults who have a medical condition that puts them at greater risk for developing serious complications from the flu. This group had always been included in the list of persons to receive H1N1 vaccine, however, because of limited vaccine supplies, this group had not been prioritized up to now.

The Department of Health has ordered 283,430 doses of nasal and injectable H1N1 vaccine. Vaccine is arriving in small amounts and is being distributed to providers and public health offices statewide.

People with the following medical conditions are at higher risk for complications: Chronic pulmonary (including asthma); cardiovascular (except hypertension); renal, hepatic, hematological (including sickle cell disease), neurologic, neuromuscular, or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus); Immunosuppression, including that caused by medications or by HIV; and people younger than 19 years of age who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy.

The Department of Health is encouraging people in the following current H1N1 vaccination priority groups to get vaccinated as soon as possible: pregnant women, household members/caretakers of infants less than 6 months old, children 6 to 59 months of age, children and adults 5 to 64 years of age with certain chronic health conditions that increase their risk of complications from influenza, and healthcare workers and emergency medical service personnel with direct patient care.

The Department of Health is encouraging people in the current priority group to call their primary healthcare providers first to ask if they are providing the novel H1N1 vaccine. People in the priority groups without insurance or a healthcare provider, or whose provider will not offer the H1N1 vaccine, can get the vaccine from a local public health office. Call your local public health office first to check the availability of H1N1 vaccine. Public health offices are listed in the phonebook’s blue pages under state government or online at www.nmhealth.org.

Vaccine Ordered by County:

The following is a total amount of H1N1 vaccine that has been ordered for each county as of Nov. 18:

Bernalillo (89,910), Catron (270), Chaves (13,060), Cibola (4,000), Colfax (1,960), Curry (6,570), DeBaca (160), Doña Ana (30,020), Eddy, (7,150), Grant (4,180), Guadalupe (470), Harding (20), Hidalgo (360), Lea (8,520), Lincoln (2,470), Los Alamos (2,410), Luna (4,120), McKinley (13,530), Mora (500), Otero (7,650), Quay (1,470), Rio Arriba (7,115), Roosevelt (2,490), San Juan (18,150), San Miguel (4,610), Sandoval (13,530), Santa Fe (18,875), Sierra (1,560), Socorro (3,310), Taos (3,470), Torrance (2,590), Union (530), Valencia (8,410).

Infection Control Recommendations for Specific Groups

Businesses & Communities

Case Managers & Workers Making Home Visits

Churches and Synagogues

Daycare Settings

Emergency Medical Services

Healthcare Workers

Jails and Prisons

Law Enforcement

Long Term Care Facilities

Mortuary Workers

School Settings

General Public

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions - (10/20/09)

Novel H1N1 Influenza Q&A for Healthcare Providers (10/19/09)

Questions & Answers about H1N1 Influenza Vaccine (10/01/09)

When to Seek Medical Care for Influenza

There are 3 groups of patients with flu with respect to the need for medical care. These are:

People who are experiencing typical, mild symptoms of influenza and are not at higher risk for flu complications (see below) should stay home and avoid public places until they are well. Typical, mild symptoms include fever, sore throat, and cough.
People who are experiencing typical, mild symptoms of influenza and are at higher risk for complications (see below) should call their health provider, community health center, or the NM DOH Health Alert Hotline for consideration for treatment with antiviral medications.
People who develop severe symptoms of influenza should seek care immediately from the emergency room. Severe symptoms include shortness of breath, rapid breathing, dehydration, or decreased responsiveness.

People who are at higher risk for developing complications from H1N1 and seasonal flu are:

Children younger than 2 years of age
Adults 65 years of age and older, and
Persons with the following conditions:
- Chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension), renal, hepatic, hematological (including sickle cell disease), neurologic, neuromuscular, or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus)
- Immunosuppression, including that caused by medications or by HIV
- Pregnant women and women up to 2 weeks postpartum
- Persons younger than 19 years of age who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy
- Residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities