Pima County and state health officials today confirmed a case of the flu - the first of the season here.
The county case was identified after confirmatory testing at the Arizona State Public Health Laboratory in Phoenix, officials said. The patient was an adult who visited their doctor after becoming ill did not require hospitalization and has since recovered.
Officials say that because this person had not traveled out of the county in the time leading up to the illness, it confirms the virus is beginning to circulate in the Tucson area.
"This is our first indication that flu is circulating in our area. If there are people that have been putting off getting their flu shot, now is the time," said Dr. Francisco García, Director of the Pima County Health Department in a prepared statement.
"The flu vaccine is safe, simple, and the single most important way to protect ourselves and the people around us now that flu season has begun.”
Getting a flu shot is not just about self protection. Since infants younger than 6 months are not able to be vaccinated, they are particularly vulnerable. In the 2014-15 flu season, there were 146 pediatric flu deaths in the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports, including one in Pima County.
Other vulnerable groups are people over the age of 65 and people with compromised immune systems.
Hospitals are increasingly requiring their employees to get flu shots, and the federal government is encouraging all health-care workers to get vaccinated.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone six months and older get the flu vaccine. Last season, Pima County reported more than 3,400 confirmed cases.
There have been seven confirmed flu cases across the state this season, officials say.
Flu viruses spread from person to person through coughing, sneezing, touching something with flu virus on it, and in some cases through the air. While the flu shot is the best way to prevent the flu – there are other important steps to take to protect yourself and others from getting sick, including washing your hands, covering your cough and staying home when you are sick
The easiest way to get a flu shot is to visit your healthcare provider. Many pharmacies and health clinics also offer the vaccine by appointment or walk-in.
Pima County Health Department can also provide vaccines for children and adults at their clinics. Go to www.pima.gov/healthFind to find a nearby clinic.
