Los Alamos Reporter

Local Doctor Warns Influenza Can Also Be Deadly

image (1)CDC Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report, Updates for week 12 ending March 21, 2020.  https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/index.htm

BY ROBERT S. MCCLEES, MD
Diplomate ABFM
CEO, CMO & Owner of Trinity Urgent Care

To our community,

The COVID-19 pandemic has created significant healthcare challenges for all of us. No one is untouched and all are concerned.

If you have a cough, fever, trouble breathing or you think you have contracted COVID-19 then immediately call the New Mexico Department of Health Hotline at 1 855 600 4353 or use the link https://cv.nmhealth.org/ for instruction for what to do next. They are there to help you.

I would like to remind the community that common medical problems have a predictable prevalence in the population. Further, we are in the midst of one of the worst Influenza or Flu epidemics of recent memory. In fact, it is getting worse.

Influenza can be deadly. The CDC has estimated that so far with this Flu Season there have 24,000 deaths, 400,000 hospitalizations and 39 million Flu cases. It is not over.  I have provided a link and the latest CDC chart that demonstrates this most graphically. Look for the Red line with triangles for the current Flu season percentages of visits of those infected with influenza.

The predominant strain this season is A(H1N1)pdm09. I would like to also add that many minor medical issues such as fractures, lacerations,  urinary tract infections, ear infections, Strep throat, skin infections, pneumonia and of course influenza can and should be treated. In fact, not treating many medical conditions can be gravely dangerous. They are too numerous to list here.

Seeking medical care is considered essential travel. It is okay for you to travel during the Stay at Home Order for medical care to a medical provider or hospital.

If you think you have a serious medical situation developing during the Stay at Home order, please seek medical care right away. Trinity Urgent Care is here to help and we are open 7 days a week from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Trinity Urgent Care is located at 1460 Trinity Drive in Los Alamos. Phone (505) 412-6033.