Nearly 180 detainees at Camp East Montana, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in El Paso, Texas, are under quarantine due to potential measles exposure. This measure follows the identification of two confirmed measles cases at a detention facility in Arizona, according to El Paso city health officials.
The detainees arrived at the El Paso facility before the Arizona cases were confirmed. Dr. Hector Ocaranza, the city and county health authority, noted that no detainees have shown symptoms of measles as of Wednesday morning, and there is no indication of spread within the El Paso community.
Communication Gaps
Questions have arisen regarding the timeliness of communication among federal, state, and local authorities. A Catholic group was reportedly turned away from a planned Mass at the facility on Sunday due to the quarantine, indicating a delay in public notification.
Chris Van Deusen, a spokesperson for the state health department, confirmed that other detainees were also quarantined at the West Texas Detention Facility in Sierra Blanca due to different potential exposures. Earlier this year, a measles outbreak at Camp East Montana affected 16 detainees and eight community members, all connected to federal government work or detention facilities.
Response and Protocols
The quarantined detainees at Camp East Montana are being monitored in two groups: 130 men with quarantine ending June 11, and 48 women with quarantine ending June 20. The facility remains open to visitors, depending on the quarantine status of the detainee they are visiting.
El Paso Matters reported that city officials were initially unaware of the quarantine until Tuesday afternoon, despite earlier inquiries. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notified the state agency about the quarantine groups on Tuesday.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed the quarantine but did not provide details on its initiation or potential transfers to Sierra Blanca. A DHS spokesperson emphasized the provision of comprehensive medical care for detainees, including medical, dental, and mental health services.
The state health department is coordinating with medical teams at the West Texas Detention Facility and the U.S. Marshals Service regarding detainees exposed to confirmed measles cases. The El Paso County Jail, which also holds federal detainees, has protocols in place for immediate isolation and notification if exposure is reported.
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease, with individuals considered contagious four days before rash onset. The city health department has relaunched its measles dashboard to track community exposure sites.
Original reporting: Arizona Luminaria — read the source article.
