With the cold and flu season upon us, Arizona is already witnessing a spike in respiratory illness cases. According toAZ Family, the state has reported over 600 confirmed cases of the flu since the start of the season on September 29. “We re getting into that season right now,” Dr. Jeremy Driscoll, an emergency room doctor at HonorHealth, told AZ Family, noting the increase in cases upon the arrival of October.
Data from the Arizona Department of Health Services confirms a concerning trend: flu numbers are soaring higher than last year’s figures, and this uptick isn’t limited to just the elderly demographic. Dr. Driscoll highlighted that the 19 to 49-year-old age group accounts for 37% of all flu cases so far. “It s pretty much all ages. I would say mostly adults,” Driscoll toldAZ Family.
Moving forward, authorities are taking action to mitigate the spread. The Maricopa County Health Department, for instance, is offering free flu shot events throughout the Valley for the month. The significance of these preventive measures, according toABC 15reporting that approximately half of Arizona’s flu cases are emanating from this county alone.
Health officials are addressing the situation with cautious optimism, despite the rise in cases. Dr. Joel Terriquez from the Arizona Department of Health Services believes that the heightened flu activity may be due to the lowered number of cases in previous years when COVID-19 precautions were strictly observed. “Even though it has been slightly higher than in the past, it s still not at the point that we should call it a concern,” Dr. Terriquez toldABC 15. However, with an average of 700 flu-related deaths per year in Arizona, the seriousness of the flu cannot be downplayed. “If we think about the holidays coming up, Thanksgiving, Christmas, I think right now is the right time to get vaccinated,” Dr. Terriquez emphasized.
The push for vaccination comes at a time when families and friends are preparing for the holiday gatherings. “Christmas is coming, if you want to gather with your family and friends, you have to be careful,” Claudia Caiceto, who recently received her flu shot, toldABC 15. For those in Maricopa County looking to avail themselves of the free flu shots, a full list of events is available through their local resources.
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