If more than two people in your family are sick right now, you are part of the majority here in El Paso! EVERYONE and their moms are sick, literally!<\/p>\n
This past New Years Eve while celebrating the new year, my mom was sick and my niece and nephew had JUST gotten over their round of being sick too! I had a friend who had just recovered from being sick and she mentioned that almost everyone she knew was sick, too!\u00a0<\/p>\n
As winter temps dropped, flu and COVID-19 cases in El Paso surged and after reading an article from El Paso Matters,<\/a> it all makes sense now. In the article, El Paso city and county health authority Dr. Hector Ocaranza explained that this spike isn\u2019t unusual. Flu season typically ramps up between December and February, and colder weather gives viruses a boost. People also tend to spend more time indoors, packed together like sardines, making it easier for germs to spread, but this year there\u2019s a specific reason why the cases are even higher: Not enough people are getting vaccinated.<\/p>\n Read More: Inside El Paso\u2019s First Star Drop That Lit Up New Year\u2019s Eve<\/a><\/p>\n Low Vaccinations means higher flu cases<\/p>\n Fewer people are rolling up their sleeves. The El Paso Public Health Department administered significantly fewer flu and COVID-19 vaccines this year compared to last year, even though free shots are regularly offered at community clinics and public events.<\/p>\n According to El Paso Matters<\/a>, data from clinics, hospitals, and reporting sites that participate in the city\u2019s epidemiological monitoring system showed a clear rise in reported cases in mid-December. However, Dr. Ocaranza stressed that these numbers only reflect trends, not total cases. Many infections go uncounted when people test at home, skip medical care, or seek treatment outside the reporting network.<\/p>\n Bottom line: viruses are still circulating, vaccines are down, so make sure to take care of yourself to avoid being part of the trend!<\/p>\n