FLU IS HITTING NEW MEXICO AND 48 OTHER STATES HARD THIS SEASON. CASES HERE HAVE TRIPLED, AND HIGHER TRAFFIC TO LOCAL EMERGENCY ROOMS ACROSS THE STATE IS BEING REPORTED. MOST PATIENTS ARE TREATED AND RELEASED BUT SOME ARE ADMITTED. DAVID MORGAN WITH THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAYS THE FLU IS WIDESPREAD IN OUR STATE. SHE SAYS THE NUMBERS ARE, OF COURSE, HIGHER IN THE STATE’S BIGGEST CITIES, LIKE ALBUQUERQUE, LAS CRUCES AND SANTA FE.
MORGAN SAYS THERE HAVE BEEN SEVEN FLU DEATHS IN NEW MEXICO THIS SEASON, AND THAT NUMBER IS EXPECTED TO RISE. BUT HE SAYS THERE HAVE BEEN NO PEDIATRIC DEATHS HERE, THOUGH THEY’RE REPORTED IN OTHER STATES.
HE ADVISES YOU GET A FLU SHOT IF YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY … DESPITE THE FACT THE VACCINE THIS YEAR DOESN’T COVER ALL FLU STRAINS.
