Flu remains widespread across the state

PHOENIX — Despite the temperatures heating up, Arizona remains in the grip of the flu.

Shane Brady with the Arizona Department of Health Services said the week of Feb. 2-8 brought almost 1,050 new confirmed cases of the flu, up from 1,020 during the week of Jan. 26.

And flu season is only at the midway point.

Brady said Arizona has had about 5,800 confirmed cases for the season, spread across all 15 counties. He also said about 40 percent of the flu activity has affected the age group of 19 to 49 years old.

“In previous seasons, the average in that age group was about 27 percent. This year is a lot higher,” said Brady. “Generally, the flu doesn’t affect that group as much.”

Brady said the confirmed cases only represent a small proportion of the true number of cases of influenza. Many people do not visit the doctor when they’re ill and doctors should not be expected to run tests on all patients exhibiting influenza-like symptoms.

Brady said they’ve seen one pediatric death this flu season, but the department doesn’t monitor adult flu deaths.