New Mexico
New Mexico public heath director talks about tracing E. coli outbreak
LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) — At least 49 people in 10 states were infected and one person has died of E. coli after eating Quarter Pounders from McDonald’s, according to the CDC.
New Mexico Director of Public Health Jose Acosta says there has been five confirmed cases in New Mexico’s Bernalillo County. Acosta says sometimes his agency is notified by the CDC or health care providers that a person has a confirmed case of E.Coli. Once cases are confirmed, the health department conducts a thorough investigation.
“As the Department of Health, we go and then investigate. You speak the with the person involved. We speak with them and ask them about contacts and exposures,” Acosta said.
The epidemiological investigation gathers information and analyzes it find the cause of outbreaks and prevent future outbreaks. They ask questions about the person’s demographics, age, symptoms, and exposures. They also track what people had been eating in the last few days before infection. The timeframe for how long the investigations take may very depending on the answers provided.
Diarrhea is the most common symptoms is severe cases people also have fever, vomiting, dehydration and dizziness. According to Acosta symptoms normally show up 3- 5 days after exposure. In less severe cases people may start to feel symptom relief between 5-7 days after exposure.
Acosta recommends reaching out to your healthcare provider or their health line at (833) 796-8773 if you think you may be exposed.
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LAS CRUCES, N.M. — An ‘imposter nurse’ in Las Cruces is facing 34 charges after nearly causing the death of a patient and illegally giving medications to patients under 18 years old.
A Doña Ana County grand jury indicted Margarita Gonzalez. She is accused of assuming the identities of nurses in Texas to get hired at four nursing facilities in Las Cruces:
- Village at Northrise
- Las Cruces Wellness and Rehabilitation
- Peak Behavioral Health
- Matrix Home Care
The New Mexico Department of Justice’s Medicaid Fraud and Elder Abuse Bureau investigated and discovered instances where Gonzalez illegally gave injections and dispensed prescriptions, including narcotics to eight inpatient residents under 18 years old.
An investigation also found Gonzalez was also about to allegedly give “an incorrect insulin dose” to a patient that they claim could’ve killed the patient if another nurse hadn’t caught the error.
Several facilities fired Gonzalez over patient safety concerns and an observed lack of knowledge.
“Impersonating a healthcare provider is a reckless and selfish crime that subjects those most vulnerable to risk of serious injury or death,” Attorney General Raúl Torrez said. “I will not tolerate those who risk the safety of patients or cause danger and unnecessary confusion within the healthcare system. These charges should keep anyone attempting to pose as a healthcare provider on notice: we will find you, and we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law to protect New Mexicans.”
Gonzalez’s charges include identity theft, nursing without a license, abuse of a resident, distribution of controlled substances to a minor and fraud totaling over $25,000.
If convicted on all counts, Gonzalez could face up to 100 years in prison.
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