High infection numbers are not borne out by the data collected by the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH)… at least, not yet.
A Las Cruces Digest Report
Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and New Mexico Department of Health
As we plan to gather for Thanksgiving this year, when it comes to COVID-19, there are two stories being told by two very different datasets. The most recent data from the CDC indicates New Mexico has “Very High” SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) activity. Those numbers are not borne out by the data collected by the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH)… at least, not yet.
The CDC uses wastewater data collected from the sewer system to determine how prevalent COVID-19 is in a community. NMDOH uses information collected from healthcare providers. Historically, there is a lag time between when the wastewater numbers spike and when that spike is realized in the healthcare system. Sometimes, a rise in COVID-19 cases detected in wastewater doesn’t materialize in hospitals and urgent care facilities.
This would be nothing more than a curiosity if New Mexico’s healthcare system was not so woefully understaffed because it is now impossible to determine if an unremarkable change in facility instances of COVID-19 following a spike in SARS-CoV-2 detected in wastewater is the result of a lesser impact of COVID-19, or just an increase in people refusing to navigate a broken healthcare system. You can’t count patients if they don’t bother going to the doctor, but when an infected person has to go–they have to go. Determining how widespread an infection is using wastewater seems, for now, the best indicator we have. It is certainly the least likely to be altered by people’s relationship with their healthcare provider.
Below, please find the most recent date from both the CDC and the NMDOH. Regardless of which scenario plays out over the course of this holiday weekend, people might consider paying closer attention to taking common sense precautions as we gather together to share our Thanksgiving meal. We have much to be thankful for, including the knowledge of how to minimize ourselves to exposure from potentially harmful viruses.
CDC Wastewater Data
Wastewater (sewage) can be tested to detect traces of infectious diseases circulating in a community, even if people don’t have symptoms. You can use these data as an early warning that levels of infections may be increasing or decreasing in your community.
Time Period: November 10, 2024 to November 16, 2024
Top Ten States (in descending order)
| State/Territory | Viral Activity Level |
|---|---|
| New Mexico | Very High |
| Arizona | High |
| Kentucky | High |
| Minnesota | High |
| Oklahoma | High |
| Pennsylvania | High |
| South Dakota | High |
| Colorado | Moderate |
| Idaho | Moderate |
| Maine | Moderate |
About the Data
Wastewater monitoring can detect viruses spreading from one person to another within a community earlier than clinical testing and before people who are sick go to their doctor or hospital. It can also detect infections without symptoms. If you see increased wastewater viral activity levels, it might indicate that there is a higher risk of infection.
About the Wastewater Viral Activity Level: The wastewater viral activity level indicates whether the amount of virus in the wastewater is minimal, low, moderate, high, or very high. The wastewater viral activity levels may indicate the risk of infection in an area. The wastewater viral activity levels are categorized as follows:
- Up to 1.5 – Minimal
- Greater than 1.5 and up to 3 – Low
- Greater than 3 and up to 4.5 – Moderate
- Greater than 4.5 and up to 8 – High
- Greater than 8 – Very High
This map shows the median wastewater viral activity level of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) reported by wastewater treatment plants within each state or territory over the previous week. States and territories may have a higher density of sampling sites in certain geographic areas, so the median wastewater viral activity level may not represent the wastewater viral activity level for every community in the state or territory. To learn more on how the wastewater viral activity level is calculated, see Data Methods.
New Mexico Department of Health
Summary of Activity: November 10 – November 16
- Respiratory virus activity is still low in New Mexico and the US, and the virus that causes COVID-19 remains the most common.
- Both COVID-19 and influenza-like activity are steadily rising in the state.
- Vaccination rates are very low overall and is especially low among children (under 15%). Consider getting vaccinated against COVID-19, influenza, and RSV (if eligible) now as infections continue to rise.
- Long Term Care Facilities: No influenza outbreaks were reported this week.
Percentage of Emergency Department (ED) Visits with
Discharge Diagnosis (DD) for COVID-19, Influenza, or RSV
November 04, 2024 – November 17, 2024
DoñA Ana County Total Respiratory Virus Discharge Diagnosis: 1.51%
- COVID 19: 1.0%
- Influenza: 0.51%
- RSV: less than 0.01%
How to Protect Yourself From Respiratory Viruses
Every year, respiratory viruses such as influenza (flu), COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cause hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations and thousands of deaths during the fall and winter virus season.
Common respiratory viral illnesses
- Flu
- COVID-19
- RSV
- Adenovirus
- Rhinovirus/Enterovirus (common cold)
- Parainfluenza
- Parvovirus B19 (Fifth Disease)
Symptoms
Respiratory viruses may cause both upper respiratory tract symptoms (the vocal chords and above) and lower respiratory tract symptoms (below the vocal chords). Some viruses also affect the nose, throat and lungs, and can lead to serious lung infections, such as pneumonia.
Examples of respiratory virus symptoms
- Fever
- Chills
- Fatigue (tiredness)
- Cough
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Decrease in appetite
- Sore throat
- Vomiting
- New loss of taste or smell
- Headache, muscle or body aches
- Diarrhea
- Weakness
When to seek emergency care
If you have an emergency warning sign (like trouble breathing or chest pain), seek emergency medical care immediately.
Risk factors
Illnesses caused by common respiratory viruses like COVID-19, flu, and RSV can make anyone sick. However, some people have risk factors that can increase their chances of getting very sick (severe illness).
Groups of people at a higher risk for respiratory illnesses
Older adults whose immune systems tend to not work as well and are more likely to have underlying health conditions.
Young children have immune systems that are still developing and small airways.
People with weakened immune systems can have lower defenses against infections and their bodies may have a harder time building lasting protection from immunization or prior infection.
People with disabilities are more likely to have underlying medical conditions, live in congregate settings, or experience factors and conditions stemming from social determinants of health that increase their risk for poor outcomes from respiratory infections.
Pregnant and recently pregnant people because pregnancy can cause changes in the immune system, heart, and lungs that make people more likely to get very sick from respiratory viruses.
Prevention
There are actions you can take to help protect yourself and others from health risks caused by respiratory viruses.
What to do when you are sick
CDC recommends you stay home and away from others until at least 24 hours after both your symptoms are getting better overall, and you have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication). Resume normal activities and use added prevention strategies over the next five days.
Core prevention strategies
Immunizations are available for all three major fall and winter respiratory diseases – flu, COVID-19, and RSV (for groups eligible for RSV immunization).
Washing hands and improving airflow in the places where people live and work are important to lowering risk from respiratory viruses.
Effective treatments are available for those who get flu or COVID-19 and are recommended for those at higher risk for severe illness. Treatment can reduce severe illness, hospitalization, and death.
Additional prevention strategies
Everyday actions like masking and physical distancing can provide an additional layer of protection.
Tests are available that can quickly detect these respiratory viruses so patients don’t delay treatment and other actions that can protect their family, friends, and coworkers.
Treatment and recovery
Treatment is a core prevention strategy to lower risk of severe illness from respiratory viruses.
Antivirals vs. antibiotics
Differences: Antiviral medicines fight against viruses, while antibiotics fight against bacterial infections.
Similiarities: Neither antiviral medications or antibiotics are sold over the counter in the United States. You can only get them if you have a prescription from a health care provider.
Widely available and effective treatments for respiratory viruses
Antiviral medications for COVID-19 and flu work best when taken as soon as possible and are recommended for those at higher risk.
COVID-19 antiviral medications cut the risk of hospitalization due to COVID-19 by over half and the risk of death by even more (75%).
Flu antiviral medications can lessen flu symptoms and shorten the time you are sick by about a day. Starting antiviral treatment shortly after symptoms begin can also help reduce some flu complications.
Download the New Mexico Department of Health COVID-19 Toolkit (pdf) for more information:
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