The Pima County Health Department and the Arizona Department of Health Services have confirmed the first flu case of the season. The case is a young Pima County child.
"Our first confirmed influenza case of the season serves as an important reminder for everyone to get vaccinated to protect themselves, their loved ones and the community," said Dr. Francisco García, Pima County Health Department Director. "Influenza is a preventable illness and now is the best time to get your flu shot because it does take one to two weeks to produce immunity."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone six months and older get the flu vaccine. There are documented benefits from flu vaccination, including reductions in flu illnesses, related doctors' visits and missed work or school. Vaccination also prevents flu-related hospitalizations and deaths.
In addition to getting the flu shot, there are other ways to protect yourself and others from getting sick. Flu viruses spread from person to person through coughing, sneezing, touching something with flu virus on it, and in some cases through the air. Make sure to wash your hands frequently, always cover your cough (use your elbow, not your hand) and stay home when you are sick.
“The more people that get the vaccine, the less flu there will be out there,” García said. “A lot of folks don’t think they need it or they believe a lot of myths about the flu shot. They’ll say, ‘I got a shot 20 years back and got sick so I’m never getting it again.’ … The truth is, if they got sick it wasn’t because of the flu vaccine. If they got really sick they were probably already exposed to the flu.”
Last year, Pima County reported more than 2,000 confirmed cases and 15 associated adult deaths.
For more information about the flu and its symptoms or where to find a flu vaccine in Arizona, please visit
StopTheSpreadAZ.org.