Health officials say 34 have died from flu in N.M.

The number of flu-related deaths in the state has doubled in the past month, health officials reported Friday, and already has surpassed the total number of deaths from the virus last year.

While the flu continues to be widespread around the state, however, “it appears activity overall in New Mexico has peaked and will likely continue to gradually decrease for the remainder of the season which is expected to be several more weeks,” the Department of Health said in a news release.

As of Friday, there were 34 flurelated deaths in the state this season, department spokesman David Morgan said Friday in a telephone interview. Four weeks ago, the department reported 16 deaths. In the 2016-17 flu season, there were a total of 27 flu-related deaths, Morgan said, with the first three deaths reported in early February.

There have been 100 pneumoniarelated deaths so far this season compared to 195 in all of last season.

“We still have several weeks to go this season,” Morgan said.

The end of the flu season varies from year to year but generally lasts from Oct. 1 until the end of March. It can sometimes drag into May.

According to the Department of Health, there have been 28 flu outbreaks in long-term care facilities, sometimes referred to as nursing homes, statewide.

It is not too late to get a flu vaccination, which is recommended for high-risk groups, including children under 5, pregnant women, those 65 and older, Native Americans and Alaska Natives, those morbidly obese, those living in long-term care facilities, those who care for high-risk people and those with certain chronic medical conditions.

The department recommends in its statement that all New Mexicans discuss getting a flu shot with their health care provider or pharmacist, adding that the vaccine can protect

against multiple flu strains “that may be co-circulating at any given time.”

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the vaccine this year is only 36 percent effective, lower than in most years. And it’s only 25 percent effective against the prevalent Type A H3N2 strain that is causing many illnesses this season.

Typically, it’s common during flu season for a peak in the more severe flu — Type A — with a smaller peak in the milder B strain. But this season, the department said, “activity peaks were relatively close together leading to the surge in activity … seen over the last couple of weeks.”

A statewide network of 45 outpatient providers reported that as of Feb. 10, “8.5 percent of their patient visits were for influenza-like illness,” according to the agency’s statement.

Hand washing, practicing cough and sneezing etiquette, and staying home from school and work if sick can be effective in preventing the spread of flu.