El Paso Pediatrics (Photo : www.elpasotimes.com)
Epidemic flu cases have increased fast nationwide and has worst statistics in the El Paso, Texas area. Nationwide scare is on alert. The United States flu epidemic threshold has exceeded this season, according to News OK.
Based on the country's earlier statistics, this season has been the worst in record of five years, especially on pediatrics department. The flu infection rates have not been this bad in the history of the states.
There have been 26 counts of pediatric deaths on from 2014-2015 flu-seasons in the United States; five of which came from Texas, El Paso Times reported.
"Children tend to be more susceptible to complications of the illness, which may include pneumonia and respiratory failure," according to Dr. Steven Lanski, Medical Director-in-charge of the Pediatric Emergency Department at the Children's Hospital at Providence.
"The children's weak immune system has to do with it. The young immune system is not aware of the virus and has little ability of fighting it. The best way to save the children from the virus is immunization," added Lanski.
However, according to the city's Department of Health spokesperson Armando Saldivar, the cause could have been that the current immunization shots are not as effective compared to that of the previous year's vaccines.
El Paso's influenza cases have increased from the previous year's statistics of 542 cases compared to 909 cases reported this season.
Immunization is still recommended by health workers in the state, Danny Acosta, Director of Immunize El Paso disclosed that they find it rather difficult to find vaccine providers after the holidays.
Moreover, the Immunize El Paso project has additional vaccines available at outreach clinics throughout the Texas; there are three locations for Immunize El Paso's clinics: the Eastside Clinic at 1580 George Dieter, Suite 102; the Tillman Health Center, 222 S. Campbell; and at the Fox Plaza Clinic, 125 N. Glenwood, Suite F.
