(Las Cruces) – The New Mexico Department of Health reports evaluations are still underway for 16 New Mexico babies tested at the Sunland Public Health Office Tuesday, and an additional 26 tested Wednesday at the Anthony Public Health Office for possible exposure to tuberculosis (TB). To date, none of the children have been found to have active TB.
The infants are among the approximately 50 residing in New Mexico who may have been exposed to a hospital employee with an active case of TB in the post-partum and newborn nursery area of Providence Hospital in El Paso, Texas between September 2013 and August 2014.
“Our public health team has spent the week in southern Dona Ana County not only testing babies, but working to put families minds at ease by educating them about the testing process,” said Department of Health Secretary Retta Ward, MPH. “We will continue working as long as necessary to examine, test and, if necessary, treat New Mexico’s infants.”
The Department will provide updates as it learns of test results, or if there is a new development in the testing process.
The El Paso Department of Public Health remains the lead agency handling the investigation with the New Mexico Department of Health providing screening tests for the New Mexico babies who may have come in contact with the hospital worker and provide treatment if required.
For information contact the El Paso Department of Public Health at 915-771-5702.