Teen Academy applications being accepted

Staff Reports

High school juniors and seniors interested in spending a week with the FBI in Albuquerque are encouraged to apply for the agency’s Teen Academy, which will be held June 8-12.

The FBI Teen Academy allows 11th and 12th graders for the 2020-21 school year an opportunity to get a peek into the inner workings of today’s FBI.

FBI Special Agents and support personnel will provide presentations on a range of topics, including terrorism, cyber security, public corruption, evidence handling, SWAT, and the day-to-day operations in a typical FBI office.

Students will also have an opportunity to try the FBI Special Agent Physical...

NMDOH advises against facemasks to prevent Covid-19

The New Mexico Department of Health continues to monitor and respond to the novel coronavirus, also referred to as COVID-19, outbreak in China and around the world. China has reported over 40,000 confirmed cases that have been identified in 24 countries, including 15 cases in the US. There have been no cases of novel coronavirus diagnosed in New Mexico at this time.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released new guidance on the use of personal protective equipment, including masks and respirators. Currently, there is a decrease in personal protective equipment exports from China and India and an increase in...

Cases continue to be reported

The New Mexico Department of Health warns residents flu remains a more significant illness to be concerned about in the state than novel coronavirus.

The Department of Health continues to monitor and respond to both the annual flu season and the novel coronavirus outbreak. However, there remains no case of the coronavirus in the state as of Feb. 27. Flu and respiratory virus season continues with many cases still being reported at New Mexico’s clinics and hospitals.

“Coronavirus still needs to be cause for heightened awareness for medical providers, but flu and respiratory illnesses needs to be the focus for residents,” NMDOH Cabinet Secretary...

As part of National Heart Health Month in February, the New Mexico Department of Health is raising awareness that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the state. The most recent data available is for 2018. It shows about 20 percent of deaths in the state were the result of heart disease.

Every year cardiovascular disease costs New Mexico $2.5 billion in medical care costs and about $1.9 billion due to absenteeism.

High blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and smoking are key risk factors for heart disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about half of Americans have at least one of these three risk factors.

Several other medical conditions and...