Influenza activity still widespread
The state Department of Health announced Wednesday that influenza activity remains widespread and that it has investigated flu outbreaks at six facilities around the state the past five months.
So far there have been 19 flurelated deaths in adults but no confirmed pediatric deaths. However, kids 4 and younger have been hospitalized at a higher rate than at this time last year, health officials said in a news release.
New Mexico flu activity has not yet peaked, they said.
“We are roughly only halfway through the influenza season,” Health Department Secretary Kathy Kunkel said in a statement.
“Getting vaccinated against the flu is still the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from getting the flu for the rest of the flu season,” she said.
The department noted that vaccinations not only protect the individual but those around them, especially the more vulnerable such as babies, children, older folks and adults with chronic health conditions.
National data suggests that the current vaccine effectiveness is about 47 percent overall and 61 percent among children 6 months to 17 years old.
Officials said that vaccination is strongly recommended for those in certain high-risk groups, including:
Pregnant women and up to two weeks post-partum;
Children younger than 5 years; Adults 65 and older; Those with chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes and lung or heart disease and those with immunosuppression from medication or disease;
Nursing home and long-term care residents;
Those who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu; Native Americans; and Those who are morbidly obese.
For information on flu vaccination clinics, visit nmhealth.org/about/phd/idb/imp/fluv/.