Flu Rampaging Through the West
The Western U.S. is being particularly hard hit by the flu this season. Colorado has reported 6,306 cases, more than in the last two seasons put together, and at least 5 children there have died from it. Texas was the first state to report heavy flu activity and has had 4 flu-related deaths. New Mexico has run out of serum for flu shots and Nevada and Utah report many cases as well.
“Obviously, the number exceeds (the norm), and the season is not over,” says Dr. Ken Gershman of the Colorado Department of Public Health. The 300,000 doses of flu vaccine that were originally available in New Mexico have been used up already and the state is trying to buy more. Gary Simpson, of the New Mexico Infectious Disease Bureau says, “As a state, we’re almost out of vaccine.”
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