El Paso Health Officials Urge ICE for Faster Disease Reporting to Prevent Outbreaks

El Paso's public health response is at risk due to delays in communication from ICE regarding infectious diseases at its detention facilities. Dr. Hector Ocaranza, the city-county health authority, highlighted that the current reporting system takes too long, which can hinder timely outbreak responses. This concern arose after a measles outbreak linked to an ICE facility earlier this year. Nearly 180 detainees were quarantined recently, but local health officials were only informed days later. Ocaranza emphasized the need for direct communication channels to protect the community, especially as local workers interact with detainees. The meeting with ICE's acting director, David Venturella, aimed to address these communication gaps.

Key Details: • Dr. Hector Ocaranza stressed the need for immediate communication to respond to outbreaks. • In February, a measles outbreak spread from an ICE facility to the El Paso community. • Nearly 180 detainees were quarantined due to possible measles exposure, with delays in notification to health officials. • Local health officials are advocating for a more direct reporting process to improve response times.