1. A. Responsibility for protection of public health: The department of health may take such measures as are deemed necessary and proper for the protection of the public health.
2. B. Coordination among agencies: The department of health shall coordinate the efforts of other concerned or interested federal, state and local agencies and shall cooperate with local health care professionals and health care facilities.
3. C. Imposition of isolation or quarantine: The department of health may establish or require isolation or quarantine of any animal, person, institution, community or region.
4. D. Case incidence in schools or health facilities: Where any case of communicable disease occurs or is likely to occur in a public, private, or parochial school, child care facility, or in a health care facility, the department of health may require the school or facility to:
5. (1) exclude infected persons and non-immune persons, whether students, patients, employees or other persons;

6. (2) close and discontinue operations if there is likelihood of an epidemic;

   1. (3) implement infection control measures per department of health recommendations.
7. E. Refusal of voluntary treatment, detention or observation: When a person who is actively infectious with a threatening communicable disease refuses voluntary treatment, detention or observation, the department of health may seek a court order for isolation or quarantine of the person, pursuant to Section 24-1-15, NMSA 1978 of the Public Health Act until the person is no longer a contagious threat to the public or the person voluntarily complies with appropriate treatment and contagion precautions.
8. F. Sentinel surveillance: The department may select an infectious or non-infectious disease or condition for sentinel surveillance that are not otherwise subject to general reporting requirements under 7.4.3.13 NMAC, through issuance of a public health order (PHO) pursuant to the department’s legal authority under the Public Health Act, Subsection J of Section 24-1-3 NMSA 1978, to bring action in court for the enforcement of health laws and rules and orders issued by the department. The PHO shall specify the manner, format, and scope of sentinel surveillance data collection. Prior to designating a disease or condition for sentinel surveillance, the department shall determine that such surveillance will provide adequate data for epidemiological purposes and that the surveillance is necessary to achieve one or more significant public health objectives, including but not limited to: characterization of a pathogen or condition; monitoring disease burden, trends, or geographic distribution; assessing vaccine effectiveness or changes in vaccine uptake; supporting prevention, preparedness, or response activities for diseases or conditions that may cause morbidity or mortality. Sentinel surveillance complements notifiable case reporting and is designed to quickly detect disease outbreaks and trends in a representative sample of the population. The department shall continuously evaluate sentinel surveillance systems to determine whether modifications are necessary, including changes to: participating geographic areas or sentinel sites; diseases, conditions, or syndromes under surveillance; or surveillance methods or mechanisms. If the department determines that a disease, condition or syndrome no longer meets the criteria for sentinel surveillance, it shall discontinue such surveillance and issue a public health order to that effect. The department shall provide each sentinel surveillance site with written guidance describing the planned surveillance mechanism for the designated disease or condition, including: reporting timeframes; required data elements; protocols for submission of laboratory test results and the submission of clinical specimens or materials from confirmed or suspected cases to the department’s scientific laboratory division.
9. G. Other public health orders: The department of health may issue orders for the testing of particular populations or groups of persons or animals to identify carriers of disease, including immigrants, refugees, travelers, students or preschoolers and others who have been at risk of transmission or exposure. The department of health may require that all tests be done under the control of the scientific laboratory division or by a laboratory approved for that purpose.
10. H. Enforcement of public health orders: Any order issued by the department of health under the Public Health Act or these rules shall be enforceable as provided by law and violation is punishable in accordance with Section 24-1-21, NMSA 1978.
11. I. Medical records: To carry out its duties to investigate and control disease and conditions of public health significance, the department of health or designee shall have access to all medical records of persons with, or suspected of having, notifiable diseases or conditions of public health significance. The department of health is a “public health authority” as defined by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and the privacy rule. The department of health is authorized to receive protected health information without patient authorization for purposes of public health surveillance, investigation and interventions and as otherwise required by law. The division or designee may periodically review medical records to ensure the completeness and quality of reporting.
12. J. Confidentiality of reports: All notifiable condition reports are confidential. Disclosure to any person of report information, except for disclosure for the purpose of prevention, treatment or control, is prohibited unless disclosure is required by law.
13. K. Research use of notifiable condition data: Researchers authorized by the department or its designee who certify to the satisfaction of the department that confidentiality of data will be maintained in accordance with applicable state and federal confidentiality requirements, may conduct studies utilizing notifiable condition data, including studies of the sources and causes of conditions of public health significance, evaluations of the cost, quality, efficacy and appropriateness of screening, diagnostic, therapeutic, rehabilitative and preventive services and programs relating to conditions of public health significance and other clinical or epidemiologic research.

[7.4.3.9 NMAC - Rp, 7.4.3.9 NMAC, A, 7/28/2026]