Eddie Garcia, KOB Eyewitness News 4
Dr. David Pelini, who is the Lovelace Regional Medical Director for Emergency Services says that flu season is off to a late start in New Mexico.
"It’s later than normal. Usually we see it in January or February and it's late March and it's really starting up now," said Pelini.
That claim is also backed up by the New Mexico Department of Health, which is expecting cases to continue for several more weeks. KOB asked Dr. Pelini if a late start to flu season equals an extended season.
"Some years it just sort of trickles along for a couple of months and sometimes we see a small peak and it's over. It's harder to tell particularly as people are mobile and they're flying around the country and around the world," Dr. Pelini said.
Whatever the outcome this flu season, Dr. Pelini says that he is encouraged by the success rate of this year's vaccine. According to the state department of health, its effectiveness is nearly 60 percent, meaning that if you get your flu shot you can reduce your chances of having to see a doctor for flu by about 60 percent. If you already have flu symptoms, Pelini recommends not putting anyone else at risk.
"If you've got a fever or if you've got a productive cough, stay away from your friends and coworkers," he said. "Stay at home and let yourself get better. Don't transmit it to the people around you." Dr. Pelini stresses that immunization as the key to help avoiding the flu.
View the original story here.