New Mexico reports dip in flu cases

SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) - The New Mexico Department of Health announced Wednesday a significant drop in people coming down with an influenza-like illness in New Mexico.

"We're seeing a decline for the first time since this pandemic started," State Epidemiologist Dr. C. Mack Sewell said.

The DOH also said the H1N1 virus has killed five more New Mexicans in the last week. All were adults with chronic medical conditions. So far 21 people have died from the swine flu statewide.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has been tracking the flu by regions. Compared to other areas, the region New Mexico is in has the most flu-like cases so far this year.

But Sewell said the illness is migrating to the northern part of the country and that's why he believes New Mexico is seeing a decline in swine flu cases.

"The southern tier of the United States were hit earlier," he said.

Debra Hammer of Lovelace Medical Center said in the last two days they've seen a big drop in urgent care patients.

"Earlier in the month of October we were seeing about a 30 percent increase in all our emergency rooms," Hammer said.

Two other large metro area hospitals--University of New Mexico and Presbyterian--are reporting a drop in the past week as well.

But Hammer said Lovelace is back to seeing a normal flow into its emergency rooms.

"We average about 90 to 100 patients a day at our Lovelace Medical Center," she said.

Even with the decrease in flu cases, Sewell said the amount of people coming down with the virus is still higher than typical flu seasons.

He said those who come down with H1N1 should still get the vaccine to be safe, and that those who are high-risk, such as pregnant women, will be vaccinated first.

But Sewell said if history repeats itself this lull is just a sign that another wave could be on its way.

"From looking at past pandemics that influenza can peak, and then we can have a lull in activity and then we can have another peak later on," Sewell said. "So I don't think we're out of the woods yet."