The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calculates adult deaths based on pneumonia and influenza.  During the week than ended Jan. 13, 8.2 percent of all deaths were due to P&I. The CDC also reported that there have been 30 pediatric deaths due to the flu this season. 

El Paso has been especially hard hit.  So far this flu season, 2,181 cases of the flu have been confirmed there — nearly seven times greater than the 320 reported at this time last year, officials said.  Two El Paso-area men in their 90s recently died from the flu. 

For New Mexico, the state has seen 16 deaths, all adults, since the start of the flu season, up from seven last week, according to the New Mexico Department of Health.  The flu season runs from October to May.

The first New Mexico death during the 2016-2017 season was in February; the first death of this season was in October, David Morgan, spokesman for the southwest region of NMDOH, said.  No deaths have yet occurred in Doña Ana County this season, he said. 

“We’re seeing a much larger number of flu activity across the state and in emergency rooms,” Morgan said. “ Every year the flu shot is created based on the most common flu strain from the season before.  Unfortunately, the strain that is common this year — H3N2 — was not common last year and not a strain in the vaccine.” 

H3N2 is strain of Influenza A, a type of flu virus.  Twyla Anderson, director of Infection Control at Memorial Medical Center, said the hospital has seen predominantly Influenza A positive patients, but the exact numbers of each strain is unknown. 

With the outbreak of the flu, MMC has often been near capacity, Anderson said.  However, they have been managing and are still able to accommodate flu patients that come in. 

Anderson said there is a plan in place for an overflow of flu patients. 

“(MMC) has been extremely busy,” Anderson said, adding that the hospital has seen an increase in flu activity, an increase in positive flu tests and an increase in the number of patients that have to be hospitalized. 

MMC has seen hundreds of positive flu cases since the start of the season, Anderson said. 

Anderson said on average, admitted flu patients are staying in the hospital four to seven days, which is typical.  The severity of the cases are also usual, Anderson said. 

While the hospitals have seen more patients, school nurses in Las Cruces Public Schools have not. 

Sandy Peugh, director of health services at LCPS, said only a few students have been diagnosed with the flu by medical professionals.  Peugh said LCPS nurses have being seeing more strep and stomach bugs than flu-like symptoms. 

“It’s a combination of team work from teachers, nurses, custodians and kiddos,” Peugh said. “ We’re trying really hard to be proactive.” 

Peugh said the custodial staff has really “revved up” the cleaning and santizing by wiping down every surface.  She said teachers are also encouraged to wipe down desks before students arrive and after they leave. 

The flu tends to affect LCPS in February, which is why the district is working now to prevent the spread of germs as much as possible, Peugh said. 

She added that LCPS is also encouraging parents to help reinforce hygiene habits by having their kids washing their hands frequently, avoid sharing drinks, covering their coughs and not touching their face before cleaning their hands. 

“Hopefully by ramping up (sanitation) now, we can help with some of the spread of germs,” Peugh said. 

Here are the top 2018 flu symptoms, according to the Phoenix Children's Hospital.(Photo: Steve Debenport/Getty Images)

What now? 

People are still encouraged to get their flu shots as the season is only half way over and there other strains in addition to H3N2 that a person is susceptible to without the shot. 

David Morgan, spokesman for the southwest region of NMDOH, added that different strains of the flu are more common during different times of the season. 

“The shot will prevent the strains that are still possible to get, they’re just not the most common right now,” Morgan said. 

Flu shots are still highly recommended among high risk groups, according to NMDOH.  Those include:

Pregnant women and up to two weeks post-partum

Children younger than 5 years old but especially children younger than 2 years old. 

People age 65 years and older

People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions like asthma, diabetes and lung or heart disease

People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities

People who live with or care for those at high risk for complication from flu, including healthcare personnel and caregivers of babies younger than 6 months

American Indians and Alaskan Natives

People who are morbidly obese

“We have not seen an increase in flu activity this early in the winter in the past five years,” said Department of Health Secretary Lynn Gallagher. “ No matter what, the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from flu is to get vaccinated.” 

Flu vaccines are still available at the local Department of Health office located at 1170 N. Solano Dr. Call 575-528-5001 for an appointment.