The Navajo Nation Department of Health and medical centers on and around the Navajo Nation have confirmed recent reports of plague, chickenpox and measles over the past few weeks, prompting medical professionals to warn the public to remain vigilant.
On April 8, the Navajo Nation Department of Health confirmed a case of plague in a resident of Apache County, who has since fully recovered. This is the first confirmed case in Apache County since 2015 and the fourth reported since 2006. Public health officials say the risk to the public remains low at this time.
“While plague is rare, we remain vigilant in protecting the health and safety of the Navajo Nation,” said health department Executive Director Sherylene Yazzie. “Through strong partnerships and proactive public health response, we are working to ensure families have the information they need to reduce risk and protect themselves. Our priority is keeping our tribal communities safe through awareness, prevention, and early treatment.”
In February, confirmed chickenpox cases on the Navajo Nation were reported. At the time, the health department affirmed that chickenpox is a vaccine-preventable disease and encouraged all Navajo Nation residents to stay up to date with their vaccinations to provide immunity against dangerous diseases.
Measles, a vaccine-preventable disease that was declared eliminated in 2000, has been confirmed near the Navajo Nation. A Coconino County resident tested positive on March 28, following the first reported case of the year, which was announced on March 20. The health department identified several locations in the border town of Page where potential exposures may have occurred and advised the public to monitor for symptoms.
The department did not specify how many cases there have been or where cases on the Navajo Nation have been reported.
‘Leaders and tribal members should be vigilant and proactive’
Officials said chicken pox and measles are preventable if people take the needed steps.
“Leaders and tribal members should be vigilant and proactive,” Dr. Kenneth Anaeme, chief medical officer of Sage Memorial in Ganado, told The Republic in an email. “The risk to the general public remains low when people follow advisories, get vaccinated (for chickenpox/measles), practice good hygiene, avoid sick contacts, and report symptoms early.”
Sage Memorial Hospital is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation. It is the first Native-managed private comprehensive health care system in the country, and has been managed since 1978 by an independent, entirely Navajo board of directors.
The hospital has 25 beds and offers radiology, pharmacy, telemedicine and a 24/7 emergency room. It also operates three field clinics in Greasewood, Wide Ruins and Sanders.
Anaeme said the plague is an endemic disease in the Northern Arizona desert areas, but the incidence is extremely low, with only about one case per year reported. Measles and chicken pox, he said, “tend to crop up as small epidemics, which are typically related to declines in vaccination rates among the childhood population.”
Vaccine recommendations have changed under Trump
Vaccines and immunizations have come under increased scrutiny during President Donald Trump’s second term, with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime vaccine skeptic, playing a prominent role. While making his second visit to the Gila River Indian Community recently, Kennedy avoided the subject.
The federal childhood vaccine schedule was recently revised, shifting six vaccines from “recommended” to a “shared decision-making” category. The Arizona chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics has said it will continue following the previous recommendations rather than adopt the new guidance.
Vaccines affected by this change include influenza, rotavirus, COVID-19, meningococcal, hepatitis A and hepatitis B.
“Many people don’t realize how well-organized and prepared Navajo Nation facilities are to prevent diseases. For chickenpox and measles, vaccines like varicella and MMR are available at IHS and tribal clinics,” said Anaeme. Sage Memorial, he said, provides community education and advisories, implements infection control measures, shares vaccination information, conducts monitoring and coordination efforts and prepares staff and the community as part of its preventive measures.
Risk to the general public remains low if basic precautions are followed, such as staying up to date on vaccinations. Sage Memorial also issued a chickenpox advisory and is encouraging routine immunizations.
“Immunization remains the cornerstone of prevention for chickenpox and measles,” he said.
Regarding the plague, Anaeme advised the public to avoid contact with dead animals — especially rodents and prairie dogs — and to remove any rodent droppings around the home. Promptly removing ticks from the skin is an important precaution.
“Sage Memorial has been working hard to improve infection control in the hospital and is also sharing more information about vaccinations in our area,” said Anaeme. “Sage Memorial also has a dedicated public health nurse team within the Community Health Division and an infection preventionist, who together will conduct surveillance and screening for cases as well as begin contact isolation or make vaccination recommendations as needed.”
For more information about measles, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/measles/index.html; or contact the Navajo Department of Health at (928) 357-6757, or the Navajo Epidemiology Center at (928) 871-6539.
Arlyssa Becenti covers Indigenous affairs for The Arizona Republic and azcentral. Send ideas and tips to arlyssa.becenti@arizonarepublic.com.
Original source: us