tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Flu, pneumonia deaths in El Paso crest to record
Westsider Enriqueta Miranda says she likes to stay healthy, which is why she decided to get her seasonal flu and H1N1 shots on Tuesday.
"I haven't gotten sick, thank God, and I've been pretty healthy," Miranda, 61, said after getting her shot at the Tillman Health Center in Downtown El Paso. "I'm so thankful I got my vaccinations."
She was especially thankful after learning that El Paso has had a record-high rate of pneumonia and influenza deaths this month.
"Of course it worries me. I don't want to die," Miranda said, laughing.
According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, El Paso had 24 pneumonia- and influenza-related deaths during the week of April 11, and 19 such deaths the week before. Most of the people who died of pneumonia and influenza were 65 or older.
During the same weeks last year, El Paso had 11 deaths and then one death. The last time El Paso logged a record-high number of pneumonia- and influenza-related deaths was in February 2000.
So far this year, there have been 121 flu- and pneumonia-related deaths, more than double the 57 deaths recorded during the same period last year.
However, city health officials said the number of reported cases has declined during the past several weeks. There had been 19 confirmed flu cases in El Paso in April as of Tuesday, compared with 357 in January, 302 in February and 136 in March.
...
http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-news/ci_17937189
Westsider Enriqueta Miranda says she likes to stay healthy, which is why she decided to get her seasonal flu and H1N1 shots on Tuesday.
"I haven't gotten sick, thank God, and I've been pretty healthy," Miranda, 61, said after getting her shot at the Tillman Health Center in Downtown El Paso. "I'm so thankful I got my vaccinations."
She was especially thankful after learning that El Paso has had a record-high rate of pneumonia and influenza deaths this month.
"Of course it worries me. I don't want to die," Miranda said, laughing.
According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, El Paso had 24 pneumonia- and influenza-related deaths during the week of April 11, and 19 such deaths the week before. Most of the people who died of pneumonia and influenza were 65 or older.
During the same weeks last year, El Paso had 11 deaths and then one death. The last time El Paso logged a record-high number of pneumonia- and influenza-related deaths was in February 2000.
So far this year, there have been 121 flu- and pneumonia-related deaths, more than double the 57 deaths recorded during the same period last year.
However, city health officials said the number of reported cases has declined during the past several weeks. There had been 19 confirmed flu cases in El Paso in April as of Tuesday, compared with 357 in January, 302 in February and 136 in March.
...
http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-news/ci_17937189