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The state Health Department is reporting that five people have died from flu so far this season.
The victims include a 91-year-old woman and a 94-year-old woman from Rio Arriba County, a 67-year-old woman from Bernalillo County, a 57-year-old woman from Lea County and a 56-year-old man from Chaves County.
The Department also is reporting that the percentage of influenza-like illnesses being reported by health care providers and laboratories has dropped for the second consecutive week. The providers and laboratories in the department’s reporting network reported that 4.6 percent of their patient visits were for flu-like illnesses.
“The influenza season started early and rates of flu-related hospitalizations are higher than they have been in recent years.” State Epidemiologist Dr. Michael Landen said in a prepared statement. “If you are not already vaccinated, it is important to get vaccinated now.”
There were eight deaths in New Mexico last flu season. The season is defined as running from October through May, although the flu peaked in the state last year in late February or early March.
The department recommends people call their physician and pharmacies. Public health offices provide vaccine to people who are at high risk for serious illness or death and people who have no health insurance and are listed in the phonebook’s blue pages under state government. Contact information for public health offices also is available at www.nmhealth.org.
People may also call the Immunization Hotline toll-free at 1-866-681-5872 or go to: http://www.immunizenm.org/flu.shtml.
While encouraging everyone to get a flu vaccine, the department especially recommends that the following groups be vaccinated:
Pregnant women (any trimester)
Children younger than 5, but especially children younger than 2 years old
People age 50 and older
People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions like asthma, diabetes, and lung or heart disease and those with immunosuppressions from medication or disease
People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including health care workers and caregivers of babies younger than 6 months
American Indians and Alaskan Natives
People who are morbidly obese
