<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3ANOAA_1GxrrcGn00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3ANOAA_1GxrrcGn00" width="1200" height="600" >TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) - Flu cases are surging in Arizona earlier than usual, and the Pima County Health Department is urging people to get vaccinated.“Influenza is surging early this year,” said Andrew Saal of the Pima County Health Department.More than 2,400 cases have been reported in Arizona already this flu season.“Which is significantly higher than our five-season average,” said Shane Brady of the Arizona Department of Health Services.Brady said 919 cases were reported in the past week, a 38% increase compared with the previous week.Influenza changes its genetic makeup each season.“Normally influenza changes just a little bit every year, trying to stay one step ahead of your immune system,” Saal said. “The current strain circulating, however, has a few different changes all at the same time.”Saal said right now, 3% of people going to hospitals and doctor’s offices in Pima County are there for flu-like symptoms. That number should be 1%.“Once you hit that three-percent mark, you break the threshold; it’s in wide circulation in the community, and it goes three, four, six percent very quickly overnight,” Saal said.Joel Terriquez of the Arizona Department of Health Services said the flu is dangerous.“Affecting our workforce at all levels, including healthcare, increases school absences, and as well as costs us a significant financial burden to our families,” Terriquez said.Terriquez stressed getting vaccinated.“Vaccines are one of our biggest public health successes. We know that they’re safe, they’re accessible, available,” he said.The Pima County Health Department did not have data on vaccination rates for this flu season.Katelyn Jetelina, an epidemiology professor at the Yale School of Public Health, said the CDC has not yet published vaccination rates for this fall season. Jetelina called that “highly unusual.” She said the data is typically released in September or October.The surge does not necessarily mean the entire season will have more cases than other years, but Saal said that could be likely.Pima County has information on vaccination clinics HERE.Did you know 13 News has podcasts? Here’s the link to see the lineup.</div></body>

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TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) - Flu cases are surging in Arizona earlier than usual, and the Pima County Health Department is urging people to get vaccinated. “Influenza is surging early this year,” said Andrew Saal of the Pima County Health Department. More than 2,400 cases have been reported in...

Flu cases surging early across Arizona

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TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) - Flu cases are surging in Arizona earlier than usual, and the Pima County Health Department is urging people to get vaccinated. “I

Flu cases surging early across Arizona

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