NMHealth

Whooping cough gets its name from the tell-tale squealing "whoop" noise made when sufferers breath in after a coughing fit. The coughing can be so violent as to cause broken ribs, hernias, seizures, swelling in the brain, and even death, according to NM Health, which recently released a warning that cases this year are double they were by this time last year.

Whooping cough cases double in New Mexico

Daniel Montaño

NM Health, formerly the Department of Health, announced late last month whooping cough has struck twice as many people in New Mexico than it did last year at the same time, prompting NMHealth to issue a warning. It’s even worse at a national level, with five times as many cases across the country.

The syphilis spirochete, also known as treponema pallidum, which when congenital — passed from mother to baby — can cause premature birth or even miscarriage, stillbirth, death shortly after birth and much more. NMHealth officials say cases in new Mexico used to trend with a single case, sometimes as many as three, per year until 2018, when they suddenly increased ultimately reaching 76 cases in 2022. The state and U.S, Senator Martin Heinrich have acted to try to reign in the spread.

Public Health New Mexico

Rising syphilis cases prompt state and federal action

Daniel Montaño

Sexually transmitted infections have been on the rise throughout the country in recent years, and New Mexico has seen an alarming increase in syphilis cases. KUNM’s Daniel Montano reports that prompted both the state, and U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich into action.

Snow dusts the land of enchantment, as seen from Ridgecrest in January 2024. A storm cutting across the state will bring drastically cold temperatures and heavy snowfall prompting a cold weather injury and illness warning from NMHealth, formerly the department of health.

Public Health New Mexico

Storm prompts warning on cold weather injuries and illness

Daniel Montaño

NM Health, formerly the department of health, announced a cold weather health advisory today for the majority of the state. KUNM’s Daniel Montaño reports the warning comes with the entrance of a large winter storm into the land of enchantment.