New Mexico Suspects First Ivermectin Death |

New Mexico may have seen its first case of a death caused by the prescription drug ivermectin, a drug not approved as a treatment for COVID-19, but nonetheless reportedly experiencing a surge of use.

The drug, in its human form, has approval from the Food and Drug Administration for people with intestinal strongyloidiasis and onchocerciasis (two conditions caused by parasitic worms), and some topical forms of ivermectin are approved to treat external parasites like head lice and skin conditions such as rosacea. The animal form, which is different, is also used for parasites and for heartworm disease.

None are appropriate for COVID-19, Acting Health Secretary Dr. David Scrase said during today’s weekly update on COVID-19 update. Nonetheless, he said he had heard, unofficially through what he described as a reliable source, that one person in New Mexico may have died from taking the drug for COVID-19 and another may be in critical care.

“It’s mainly a veterinary medicine for parasite infections,” Scrase said, noting there is, nonetheless, “a cult following for this drug.” The state’s Medical Advisory Team, he said, “has looked at it three times. We don’t think there’s evidence to be effective in treating COVID by any stretch of the imagination.” Scrase said more information about the person who may have died from taking ivermectin will become available once it has been fully investigated and a death certificate has been issued. The drug can be lethal, he said, and cause a variety of issues, and encouraged New Mexicans to call the poison control hotline if they or anyone they knew had taken ivermectin (1-800-222-1222).

Slide "Misinformation Moment: Ivermectin is not an approved treatment for COVID-19." NMDOH 9/8/21

Use of approved treatments for COVID-19, however, have been rising, albeit “not enough.” Those treatments include the anti-viral drug Remdesivir, provided to moderately ill people in hospital, and monoclonal antibody treatments, available to certain at-risk groups, available on an out-patient basis.

Slide "There has been a significant increase in inpatient and outpatient mAb treatments, but not enough!" NMDOH 9/8/21

Use of the latter, Scrase said, “reduces hospitalizations by 75% in high risk individuals” and may be contributing to hospitalizations currently being below projections from forecasting models by both Los Alamos National Laboratory and Presbyterian Hospital. “We’re happy to have the cases be lower than expected,” Scrase said, but noted “we are still up against it in terms of our resources.” Scrase said he expects hospitals, which currently are operating within crisis care standards but have not had to ration care at this point, to continue to surge for the next few weeks. “I’ll still be sitting on the edge of my seat close to the end of September,” he said. As of today, 394 people are hospitalized with COVID-19.

Slide "Hospitalizations now below current modeling projections." NMDOH 9/8/21

As has been the case nationwide, hospitalizations for children have been rising, but to a lesser degree here than elsewhere. Scrase shared new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showing unvaccinated adolescents are hospitalized at 10 times the rate than those who are vaccinated.

Moreover, states with higher vaccination rates among those 12 and older, such as New Mexico, have lower hospitalization pediatric hospitalization rates. “We all need things we can feel good about in this pandemic,” Scrase said. “Every single person today who got a vaccination: You’ve protected yourself, your family and you’ve also protected children in New Mexico, as immunity in adults shown is being shown to protect immunity levels in kids.” Read the health department’s weekly report on pediatric COVID-19 cases here.

Slide, "Highest hospitalization rates in children in low vaccination rate states." NMDOH 9/8/21

That being said, cases among youth ages 5-17 have been rising, according to data shared by state Epidemiologist Dr. Christine Ross (read the state’s weekly report on COVID-19 by demographics here).

Slide "COVID-19 infection rates are high among children and adolescents aged 5-17 years." NMDOH 9/8/21

To that end, the health and education departments today announced a new COVID-19 testing and screening program, which DOH is funding by using a $63 million grant from the CDC Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity Funding program.

“Surveillance testing is a critical part of our protocols to keep schools safe and students and staff healthy,” Public Education Secretary-Designate Kurt Steinhaus said in a statement. “With this grant, schools will have the funding and hands-on support they need to complete this task without pulling money from academic programs.”

Slide, "A new COVID-19 testing and screening program is ready for New Mexico schools." NMDOH 9/8/21.

Testing remains front and center, health officials said today, with a recent CDC warning about shortages of supplies for COVID-19 tests. Those relying on rapid tests for surveillance testing should “plan ahead,” Scrase said. The state continues to provide online scheduling for tests, and provided a chart of turn-around times for those (below).

Slide "New Mexico testing turnaround time." NMDOH 9/8/21

The state’s test positivity rate is hovering just below the target of 7.5% (it’s at 7.3%), Ross said, and the spread rate is trending down and is currently at 1.0. Ross expressed cautious optimism about case rates, as shown in the chart below with a deceleration of growth in new cases. “It’s my job to worry, so I certainly don’t want to celebrate too early,” Ross said, “but I am happy to see this semblance of a plateau.”

Slide, "New Mexico COVID-19 Cases by Date of Specimen Collection September 7, 2021." NMDOH 9/8/21

Death rates, however, are expected to remain high following hospitalizations, with officials reporting 15 new deaths today, including the 158th for Santa Fe County.

Slide "As expected, we are now beginning to see an increase in COVID-19 deaths." NMDOH 9/8/21.

As has been the case, the vast majority of new cases and hospitalizations remains among those who are unvaccinated. “The take-home message is the driving force in the surge of cases that we’re seeing in New Mexico is among unfortunately unvaccinated individuals,” Ross said.

Currently, 78.3% of New Mexicans 18 years and older have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 68.4% are fully vaccinated. In the 12-17-year-old age group, 61.5% people have had at least one dose and 49.8% are fully inoculated. In Santa Fe County, among those 18 years and older, 89.7% have had at least one dose and 79.2% are fully vaccinated.

Deputy Health Secretary Dr. Laura Parajón said the state had a 58% increase in vaccine administrative during August when it held a $100 vaccine incentive program. People who participated have until 5 pm, Friday to sign up and receive the incentive.

New Mexico health officials today reported 543 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the statewide total so far to 238,430. DOH has designated 206,242 of those cases as recovered. Lea County had 108 cases, followed by Bernalillo County with 88 and Doña Ana County with 74. Santa Fe County had 10 new cases.

The state also announced 15 additional deaths; there have now been 4,577 fatalities.

New cases

88 new cases in Bernalillo County
1 new case in Catron County
42 new cases in Chaves County
9 new cases in Cibola County
1 new case in Colfax County
18 new cases in Curry County
74 new cases in Doña Ana County
31 new cases in Eddy County
5 new cases in Grant County
108 new cases in Lea County
16 new cases in Lincoln County
1 new case in Los Alamos County
1 new case in Luna County
33 new cases in McKinley County
1 new case in Mora County
14 new cases in Otero County
4 new cases in Quay County
3 new cases in Rio Arriba County
2 new cases in Roosevelt County
14 new cases in Sandoval County
30 new cases in San Juan County
11 new cases in San Miguel County
10 new cases in Santa Fe County
1 new case in Sierra County
4 new cases in Socorro County
10 new cases in Taos County
2 new cases in Torrance County
9 new cases in Valencia County

New fatalities

A male in his 60s from Bernalillo County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
A male in his 80s from Bernalillo County who had underlying conditions
A male in his 50s from Curry County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
A female in her 60s from Doña Ana County
A male in his 90s from Doña Ana County who had underlying conditions
A male in his 60s from Eddy County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
A female in her 60s from Lea County who was hospitalized
A female in her 90s from Lea County who had underlying conditions
A male in his 70s from Lincoln County who was hospitalized
A female in her 40s from Los Alamos County
A male in his 40s from McKinley County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
A male in his 60s from San Juan County. The individual was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
A male in his 90s from San Juan County. The individual had underlying conditions
A male in his 70s from San Miguel County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
A male in his 60s from Santa Fe County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions

Congregate facilities

The Department of Health has identified at least one positive COVID-19 case in residents and/or staff in the past 28 days at the following facilities:

Advanced Health Care in Albuquerque
Albuquerque Heights Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center
Avamere in Roswell
Avista Senior Living (Brookdale Senior Living) in Albuquerque
Aztec Healthcare in Aztec
BeeHive Homes Bosque Farms
BeeHive Homes San Pedro in Albuquerque
BeeHive Homes Clovis
BeeHive Homes Portales
BeeHive Homes Roswell
Bloomfield Nursing and Rehabilitation in Bloomfield
Brookdale Valencia in Albuquerque
Calibre Sagecrest Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Las Cruces
Canyon Transitional Rehabilitation Center in Albuquerque
Casa Arena Blanca Nursing Center in Alamogordo
Casa de Oro in Las Cruces
Casa del Norte in Albuquerque
Casa del Sol Center in Las Cruces
Casa Maria Health Care Center in Roswell
Clayton Nursing and Rehabilitation in Clayton
Clovis Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Clovis
Colfax Long-Term Care Center in Springer
Desert Springs Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Hobbs
Fort Bayard Medical Center in Santa Clara
Genesis McKinley Care Center in Gallup
Good Life Senior Living in Hobbs
Good Samaritan Society – Betty Dare in Alamogordo
Good Samaritan Society Las Cruces
Haven Care Aspen House in Albuquerque
Lakeview Christian Home in Carlsbad
Landmark at Desert Gardens in Hobbs
La Posada Assisted Living in Las Cruces
La Vida Llena Community in Albuquerque
Las Palomas Center in Albuquerque
Life Care Center in Farmington
Lovington Healthcare in Lovington
The Meadows Home at the New Mexico Behavioral Health Institute in Las Vegas
Mission Arch Center in Roswell
MorningStar Memory Care at North Ridge in Albuquerque
The Neighborhood Assisted Living in Rio Rancho
The Neighborhood Health Care in Rio Rancho
Odelia Healthcare (Camino Healthcare) in Albuquerque
Princeton Place in Albuquerque
The Rehabilitation Center of Albuquerque
Retirement Ranches in Clovis
The Rio at Las Estancias in Albuquerque
Roberta’s Family Care Home Assisted Living in Anton Chico
Sandia Senior Suites in Albuquerque
Santa Fe Care Center in Santa Fe
Sierra Health Care Center in Truth or Consequences
Silver Wings Assisted Living at Academy in Albuquerque
Skies Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Albuquerque
Spanish Trails Rehabilitation Suites in Albuquerque
St. Anthony Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Clovis
The Suites at Rio Vista in Rio Rancho
Vida Encantada Nursing & Rehabilitation in Las Vegas
White Sands Healthcare in Hobbs
The Woodmark at Uptown in Albuquerque

Statewide cases

County totals are subject to change upon further investigation and determination of residency of individuals positive for COVID-19.

Bernalillo County: 67,547
Catron County: 133
Chaves County: 11,115
Cibola County: 3,127
Colfax County: 994
Curry County: 6,590
De Baca County: 212
Doña Ana County: 27,452
Eddy County: 9,508
Grant County: 1,937
Guadalupe County: 549
Harding County: 14
Hidalgo County: 519
Lea County: 11,880
Lincoln County: 2,381
Los Alamos County: 630
Luna County: 3,663
McKinley County: 13,390
Mora County: 230
Otero County: 5,029
Quay County: 782
Rio Arriba County: 4,274
Roosevelt County: 2,457
Sandoval County: 13,992
San Juan County: 17,433
San Miguel County: 2,076
Santa Fe County: 11,851
Sierra County: 894
Socorro County: 1,516
Taos County: 2,096
Torrance County: 1,113
Union County: 283
Valencia County: 7,977

Cases among people being held by federal agencies

Cibola County Correctional Center: 455
Otero County Federal Prison Facility: 481
Otero County Processing Center: 491
Torrance County Detention Facility: 349

Cases among people being held by the New Mexico Department of Corrections

Central New Mexico Correctional Facility in Valencia County: 312
Guadalupe County Correctional Facility: 256
Lea County Correctional Facility: 762
Northeast New Mexico Correctional Facility in Union County: 169
Northwest New Mexico Correctional Center in Cibola County: 130
Otero County Prison Facility: 473
Penitentiary of New Mexico in Santa Fe County: 219
Roswell Correctional Center: 229
Southern New Mexico Correctional Facility in Doña Ana County: 233
Springer Correctional Center in Colfax County: 151
Western New Mexico Correctional Facility in Cibola County: 76

*Per the health department, hospitalization figures include people who were tested elsewhere but are hospitalized in New Mexico, but don’t include people who were tested here but are hospitalized out of state.

New Mexico Suspects First Ivermectin Death

DOH reports 543 new COVID-19 cases and 15 more deaths