Flu season far from over
State experiencing high rate of infections; season could persist for weeks
N.M. experiencing high levels of influenza activity that might persist for weeks; residents urged to obtain vaccinations.
New Mexico is experiencing high levels of influenza activity that might persist for weeks, and health officials are urging residents who have not already done so to obtain vaccination against the infection.
“Anyone’s chances of getting the flu are far from over,” state Health Secretary Lynn Gallagher said in a statement.
The New Mexico Department of Health reported the highest rate of flu-like illness activity in the state this year with 5.2 percent of patients seeking medical care for the week that ended Feb. 18, which was the agency’s most recent available data Thursday. The 5.2 percent exceeded the national incidence of flu-like illness, 4.8 percent, in the same week.
“A high level of activity should be a cause for alarm if you’re not vaccinated,” said Dr. Michael Landen, the state epidemiologist, who added that vaccination against influenza is “one of the most important things anybody can do for their health.”
The average flu season lasts about 13 weeks, Landen said. “If you assume we’re peaking right now … and if we had a typical-length influenza season, we could have influenza through another six weeks, up to two months.”
At least six people in the state have died from flu-related illness and 29 from pneumonia-related illness this year, according to Health Department data. An influenza infection can develop into pneumonia or result in other complications such as bronchitis. Certain groups — namely the
elderly, pregnant women, young children and those with chronic medical conditions — face a higher risk of complication if infected.
In addition, flu-related hospitalizations have climbed threefold since January, the Health Department reported.
Landen said he could not provide information on where in the state the deaths had occurred and added that it is too early to make any conclusions about the severity of the influenza virus strain this season.
A news release by the Health Department early last month placed one of the deaths, an adult man, in Santa Fe County.
The duration and severity of the flu season peak, or when the infection is most widespread, varies from year to year.
“You know when the peak was when the season is over,” said Anna Pentler, executive director of the New Mexico Immunization Coalition. But Pentler said influenza typically peaks in the state in January and February.
“We’ve been seeing increasing numbers all through the month of February,” Pentler said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends anyone older than 6 months obtain a vaccination by the end of October. Health care providers and pharmacies offer shots through the season. The state Health Department offers vaccinations for the uninsured, according to an agency news release.
The northeast region of the state, which includes Santa Fe, saw an increase in flu-like illness activity over the week ending Feb. 18, up from 1.8 percent to 2.1 percent of patients seeking medical care.
The southeast region of the state, which extends to Quay County in the north and as far west as Lincoln County, had the highest incidence of flu-like illness activity at 9.4 percent, down from 9.9 percent the week before.
Dr. Bill Leeson of Santa Fe Family Medicine said he has seen several patients who were vaccinated and nonetheless exhibited flu-like symptoms. But, he said, “It doesn’t mean it’s not important to get the influenza vaccination, because it still probably reduces, number one, the likelihood of getting it and, number two, the severity if you do get it.
“It actually seems a little bit better this week and last week than it did the previous couple weeks,” Leeson added. “We may have reached the peak and be on the downside — but that’s guesswork; it could come roaring back.”
The duration and severity of the flu season peak, or when the infection is most widespread, varies from year to year.