Teenager living in southeast NM is state’s first confirmed flu case

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Department of Health on Thursday reported the first confirmed flu case in the state, marking the beginning of the 2020-2021 flu season.

The case involves a teenager living in southeast New Mexico and has been confirmed by the NMDOH Scientific Laboratory in Albuquerque, officials said in a news release.

“There is no better time to get your flu shot than now,” Department of Health Acting Cabinet Secretary Billy Jimenez said in a statement.

Flu vaccines are created to slow or stop the most common types expected to spread during the fall and winter months and run as late as May.

Flu and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses and share many symptoms, according to the release. Patients with symptoms of respiratory illness including fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing should consider getting tested for both viruses, health officials said.

For more information, visit www.togethernm. org/flu/ as well as the Immunize NM website, www.nmhealth.org/about/phd/idb/imp/.