Chickenpox outbreak strikes at Mexican migrant shelter

[Shiloh]

Source: https://kvia.com/news/top-stories-n...-outbreak-strikes-at-mexican-migrant-shelter/


Chickenpox outbreak strikes at Mexican migrant shelter
By Julio-Cesar Chavez
December 27, 2019 6:32 pm

A group of Central American migrants is under quarantine in a Juarez shelter after a chickenpox outbreak. The shelter itself has now opened its doors.

Nearly 800 migrants are housed in the Leona Vicario shelter, where the Mexican federal government cares for Central American asylum seekers sent back by the US to wait in Mexico. According to Chihuahua state health officials 72 migrants come down with chicken pox, 69 of them were children.

Varicela is not always dangerous, but it is very contagious. Once it was discovered in a Juarez shelter, immigration and health officials started working to make sure it doesn’t spread.

Federal representative Juan Carlos Loera told Canal 44 Thursday 20 people had already been cleared after getting better...

 

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.easttexasmatters.com/ne...rant-shelter-contained-mexican-officials-say/

Chickenpox outbreak at migrant shelter contained, Mexican officials say
Hundreds get vaccines and dozens remain in isolation in Juarez, even as new cases are reported
by: Julian Resendiz
Posted: Jan 3, 2020 / 10:22 AM CST / Updated: Jan 3, 2020 / 10:22 AM CST

EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) — The chickenpox outbreak that sickened 127 migrants and has another seven under observation at a Juarez shelter has been contained, Mexican officials said.

This, after staff at the Leona Vicario migrant facility successfully isolated the sick and their families and applied 758 vaccines on Tuesday and Wednesday to the rest of those staying there, Chihuahua state health officials said.

“The most important issue is that those who are infirm don’t (have contact) with those who are healthy. We cannot have the sick running around” the shelter, said Gumaro Barrios, head of epidemiology in Juarez.

Health officials on Tuesday received 1,300 varicella — or chickenpox — vaccines from the state and federal governments. Plans call for migrants staying at church-run shelters throughout the city to also get vaccines in order to avoid a citywide epidemic.

While all of the confirmed cases were at the Leona Vicario shelter, five suspected cases are being reported at Casa del Migrante, the largest of the church-run facilities. Officials said that up to 198 guests at Casa del Migrante could get the varicella vaccination next.

At Leona Vicario, 71% of the sick are children under 15 years old, Barrios said. Nearly half (57) are Hondurans, 27 are Salvadorans and 25 from Guatemala, he said. The rest of the cases involve Nicaraguans, Venezuelans, Mexicans and others.

Juarez has become temporary residence to thousands of migrants who are seeking asylum in the United States and have either been placed on a waiting list for initial appointments or were sent back to Mexico under a program called Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP)...