The Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response Friday deployed a 14-member National Disaster Medical System team to the University of New Mexico Children’s Hospital to help support staff caring for a surge in pediatric respiratory illnesses, such as flu and Respiratory Syncytial Virus.

“The arrival of the NDMS team couldn’t come at a better time,” said Anna Duran, M.D, associate chief medical officer of the UNM Children’s Hospital. “Our staff have been working very hard to provide the highest level of care to the sickest children in our state. But our staff are tired, many of them missed the holidays with their families, and they desperately need this help.”

On Dec. 2, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said states and health care providers may use regulatory flexibilities available during the COVID-19 public health emergency as well as HHS resources such as NDMS teams to help respond to non-COVID-19 illnesses straining hospital and health care systems.

Related News Articles

Headline
A National Institutes of Health study published April 2 found that blood pressure patterns observed during the first half of pregnancy can determine a woman's…
Headline
The U.S. birth rate fell 2% in 2023 to about 3.6 million, according to final data released March 18 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The…
Headline
The Central Nevada Health District yesterday announced the state's first case of H5N1 bird flu, a dairy farm worker who was exposed to infected cattle. The…
Headline
At least 24 million people have had seasonal flu this season, according to estimates  from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nearly 49,000…
Headline
A study by the Penn State Department of Nutritional Sciences found that low vitamin D levels in the first trimester of pregnancy are associated with higher…
Headline
The U.S. maternal mortality rate decreased to 18.6 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023, down from 22.3 in 2022, according to new data from the Centers for…