THE WORST OF THE FLU SEASON APPEARS TO BE OVER IN NEW MEXICO. THAT FROM MEDICAL EPIDEMIOLOGIST CHAD SMELSER WITH THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. THE STATE STILL HAS ABOVE NORMAL ACTIVITY BUT IT'S NOT AS HIGH AS WHEN THE SEASON PEAKED EARLIER.
DR. SMELSER SAYS THIS FLU SEASON HAS BEEN WORSE THAN NORMAL, WITH MORE DEATHS...AT LEAST TEN...AND MORE HOSPITALIZATIONS, ESPECIALLY AMONG THE ELDERLY. HE SAYS THE SEASON STARTED EARLY...IN MID TO LATE NOVEMBER...AND PEAKED AROUND THE HOLIDAYS INTO EARLY JANUARY.