Active Public Health Outbreaks & Alerts: New Mexico (November 2025)
As of late November 2025, New Mexico is managing several distinct public health challenges. While the state has successfully closed its major measles outbreak from earlier in the year, health officials are currently grappling with a significant surge in Pertussis (Whooping Cough) and have issued critical alerts regarding a nationwide infant botulism threat. Additionally, a renewed public health order remains in effect to combat persistently high rates of congenital syphilis.
?? Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Surge
Status: Active & Increasing
Trend: Cases have nearly doubled year-over-year.
*Data indicates a sharp rise across all age groups, with infants at highest risk.
?? Congenital Syphilis Order
Status: Public Health Order Renewed (Oct 2025)
Reason: NM ranks #1 nationally for congenital syphilis rates.
- Mandate: Universal screening for all pregnant individuals (1st & 3rd trimester + delivery).
- Target: Adults aged 18-50 regardless of perceived risk.
- Goal: Reverse the 874% increase seen over the last 5 years.
Critical Alert: Infant Formula Botulism
In November 2025, the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) issued an urgent alert following a nationwide recall of ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula. This recall is linked to a multi-state outbreak of infant botulism.
While no confirmed cases have originated within New Mexico as of late November, the product was sold at major retailers across the state. Health officials warn that symptoms—including constipation, weak cry, and "floppy" muscle tone—can take weeks to appear. This is currently the most acute "immediate action" alert for parents in the state.
| Disease / Issue | Current Status (Nov 2025) | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|
| Pertussis | Outbreak active; cases doubling YoY. | High |
| Botulism (Formula) | Active recall; monitoring for symptoms. | Moderate (Alert) |
| Syphilis | Public Health Order active; rates stabilizing but high. | Severe (Chronic) |
| H5N1 (Bird Flu) | Surveillance active during migration; no recent human cases. | Low (Watch) |
| Measles | 2025 Outbreak declared over in September. | Resolved |
Respiratory Virus Surveillance
Contrasting with the high activity of Pertussis, the "TripleDemic" viruses (COVID-19, Flu, RSV) are showing varied activity levels in New Mexico as of late November 2025:
COVID-19
Activity: Low
Transmission rates stable.
Influenza
Activity: Low
Below baseline levels.
RSV
Activity: Rising
Increasing in Southern US regions.
Note on Data Discrepancies: While some national news aggregators may list "E. coli" under 2025 alerts due to automated dating, the major McDonald's E. coli outbreak affecting the region was declared over by the CDC in late 2024. The current active bacterial threat in New Mexico is Pertussis, not E. coli.