The Arizona Department of Health Services and the Maricopa County Department of Public Health confirmed this week that flu season has begun. The first victim is an unvaccinated woman in her late 50’s whom was never hospitalized.
“And now the obvious questions, ‘How bad will this flu season be? Will the vaccine be protective against the strain of influenza circulating?’ and the all important ‘Should I get my influenza shot?'” said Dr. Bob England, director of the Maricopa County Department of Public Health. “We just don’t know yet which strain will dominate this season or how bad it will be. But we do know that the best way to protect ourselves and those around us is to get our influenza vaccine.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone 6 months and older get the influenza vaccine. As always, this year’s vaccine protects against three different influenza viruses; an H3N2 virus, an H1N1 virus and an influenz0a B virus.
“Remember, getting your shot is as much about community protection as it is about personal protection,” said Will Humble, director of the Arizona Department of Health Services. “There are people who can’t get a flu shot. It’s up to all of us to do the right thing. While we’re protecting ourselves when we get the shot, we’re also preventing the flu from spreading to our communities.”
Last year Arizona had 4,000 flu cases and one person younger than 19 died from influenza. The numbers of people 19 and over who die from influenza are not individually reported to the state.
Preparation includes getting the influenza vaccine and being vigilant in good hygiene — covering our cough in our sleeves, washing our hands frequently and staying home when we are sick.
For more information about influenza and its symptoms or where to find a flu vaccine in Arizona, please visit StopTheSpreadAZ.org.