Flu cases in New Mexico have tripled this season
Dr. Chad Smelser, N.M. Department of Health medical epidemiologist ... said that so far there have been seven deaths in New Mexico, all adults, attributed to flu in the 2017-2018 season, but he expects that number to grow when new figures are released on Friday.
Flu season starts in October and can run into May. The fact there have been seven flu deaths already this season may only mean that the flu infection got uglier faster.
Flu death totals in New Mexico the past few seasons have been 27 adults and no children in 2016-2017, 30 adults and one child in 2015-2016 and 32 adults and one child in 2014-2015.
If there is a glimmer of hope, it may be that this season’s ravenous run of flu might be slowing down, although Smelser said it’s too early to know that for sure ...
“The last week of December and the first week of January (the number of cases) leveled off,” Smelser said. “But we don’t know yet if that is a true peak.”
He said that last season the peak was in late February or early March.
More at:
https://www.abqjournal.com/1120666/flu-cases-in-state-triple-this-season.html