Gov. Bill Richardson will be in Las Cruces this afternoon to brief the community on the status of swine flu (or H1N1 flu) in New Mexico and “the state’s efforts to track and stop the spread of the virus,” according to a news release from the governor’s office.
Richardson will hold a news conference in the commission chambers at the Doña Ana County Government Center, 845 North Motel Boulevard, at 2:30 p.m. Richardson will also be in Clovis to discuss the situation at 11:30 a.m. in the board room at Clovis Community College, 417 Schepps Boulevard, according to the release.
There has been one confirmed case of swine flu in New Mexico — an 18-year-old man from Valencia County who is recovering, according to the state Department of Health. The department is investigating 14 other “probable” cases, and the state is taking some serious measures this week to try to stop the spread of the virus.
The department has announced that Carlsbad High School, Deming Intermediate School and all public schools in the Socorro and Lordsburg districts will be closed this week. That’s due to probable cases in those districts.
“We are taking quick action to prevent the spread of H1N1 flu in New Mexico by closing the schools in these communities,” Health Secretary Alfredo Vigil said in a news release announcing the school closures. “Parents around the state need to continue to be diligent and keep their children home from school if they develop influenza-like symptoms.”
In addition, the state has cancelled all prep sports statewide this week, according to the Farmington Daily Times’ Twitter feed.