THE FLU SEASON IN NEW MEXICO IS OFF TO A RELATIVELY SLOW START. THAT FROM MARISA BARGSTEN, AN EPIDEMIOLOGIST WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. SHE TELLS 770 KKOB, THE GOOD NEWS IS, THIS YEAR’S VACCINE SHOULD WORK BETTER THAN LAST YEAR’S. THE VACCINE THIS YEAR IS DIFFERENT THAN THE ONE USED LAST YEAR AND WAS LESS THAN 25-PERCENT EFFECTIVE.
THERE HAVE BEEN TWO FLU-RELATED DEATHS IN NEW MEXICO THIS YEAR. LAST YEAR THERE WERE 30, INCLUDING ONE CHILD. BARGSTEN SAYS, A YEAR AGO, THE FLU IN NEW MEXICO PEAKED IN LATE DECEMBER OR EARLY JANUARY.
