Camp East Montana Quarantined Again Due to Chickenpox Exposure

Camp East Montana, an immigrant detention center in El Paso, initiated an unannounced quarantine after four female detainees were exposed to chickenpox, with 55 additional detainees identified as secondary contacts. The exposures occurred at an undisclosed facility in Arizona before their transfer. Health officials reported the exposure on July 8, with the monitoring period concluding on July 19, during which no cases were confirmed. This incident follows previous outbreaks at the center, including a measles outbreak earlier this year, highlighting ongoing communication issues between ICE and local health authorities. El Paso health officials stress the importance of timely information to manage public health responses effectively.

Key Details: • Quarantine monitoring period for chickenpox ended on July 19. • Initial exposures reported on June 28, with notification to health authorities on July 8. • No confirmed cases of chickenpox reported during the monitoring period. • Past outbreaks include 24 measles cases reported in February and March. • ICE has faced criticism for slow communication with local health departments.