Flu activity in New Mexico is higher than national average

State Department of Health officials say the rate of hospital admissions among children aged 4 and younger is particularly high.

New Mexico's rate of influenza-related hospital admissions for that age group is three times higher than participating states in the Centers for Disease Control's tracking program.

The overall rate of laboratory-confirmed flu hospitalizations in New Mexico also is nearly double that of other CDC participating states.

Children aged 4 and younger and adults 65 years of age and older are the most vulnerable to both flu and more severe illness or disease.

The flu season typically runs through the end of April, but authorities say there can be sporadic cases into the early summer months.