When the first day of fall began late last month, it was hard to get in the spirit of the season in Las Cruces, what with 90 degree temperatures, but with fall comes flu.
Already, the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDoH) is receiving reports of flu cases statewide. The first lab-confirmed cases were reported just over two weeks ago in three women, ages 54, 68, and 77, from Bernalillo county. The 68-and-77-year olds were hospitalized for treatment, and are now out of the hospital.
That’s why NMDoH and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourage everyone in New Mexico and nationwide, to get their annual flu vaccination.
It’s not possible to predict what this flu season will be like. The CDC reports flu seasons are unpredictable in a number of ways. While flu spreads every year, the timing, severity, and length of the season varies from one year to another. Most seasonal flu activity typically occurs between October and May. Flu activity most commonly peaks in the United States between December and February.
In New Mexico, 31 people died from flu related illness during the 2014-2015 flu season.
Last year's flu vaccine didn't work very well. Even when the vaccine is not a great match for the strains circulating, getting vaccinated can lead to less severe illness and fewer flu-related complications. Good news is, the CDC says this year's version should do a much better job protecting people against the flu. An analysis of the most common strains of flu virus that are circulating in the United States and elsewhere found they match the strains included in this year's vaccine.
New “recipes” for flu vaccinations are created every year, based on the most common flu strains anticipated for the given season. New Mexicans should contact either their primary care provider of their pharmacy to make an appointment to get vaccinated. For those without insurance, no-cost flu vaccinations are being provided Saturday, October 31st from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. while supplies last at Memorial Medical Center, where they’re hosting a “Say Boo to the Flu” flu vaccination event.
NMDoH recommends everyone six months and older get vaccinated each flu season, especially people in the following groups because they are at high risk of having serious flu-related complications or because they live with or care for people at high risk for developing flu-related complications:
- Children younger than 5, but especially children younger than 2 years old
- Pregnant women (any trimester)
- People age 65 and older
- People of any age with medical conditions like asthma, diabetes, lung or heart disease, and those who are immunocompromised
- 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
- American Indians and Alaskan Natives
- People who are morbidly obese
- Healthcare personnel
People in these groups should also consider seeing their health care provider as early as possible to be evaluated for antiviral medication if they develop flu symptoms because the sooner that these medications are begun, the better the chance of preventing serious complications. People who have the flu may have some or all of the following symptoms:
- Fever or feeling feverish/chills
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Muscle or body aches
- Headaches
- Fatigue (tiredness)
- Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.
To find out about flu vaccination clinics both in Las Cruces and throughout New Mexico, you can call the Immunization Hotline toll free at 1-866-681-5872 or check out the HealthMap Vaccine Finder to see where the vaccine is being offered. You can find more information about flu and flu vaccines in the Influenza Vaccinations section of NMDoH’s website.