ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – If you haven’t gotten sick yet, chances are you know someone who has. 

According to the latest data from the CDC, New Mexico is one of more than 20 states in the “very high” level of influenza activity. That’s the highest category. 

“People are out and about. We are no longer staying home when we are sick. We are no longer masking when we are sick,” said Dr. Alex Cvijanovich at Presbyterian Health. 

Cvijanovich says in addition to a bad flu season, RSV is also getting the elderly and younger children sick.

Statistics from New Mexico shows the number of children under 4 who have been hospitalized has shot up since December. 

“We don’t have any medication to treat RSV with. It is pretty much just oxygen if people need it,” said Cvijanovich. 

While COVID cases are on the downward trend, Cvijanovich believes the pandemic is partly to blame for this winter sick season we are seeing.  

“As COVID numbers have gone down and COVID is less severe, I think we have gotten a little complacent on caring for other viruses,” Cvijanovich said. 

She says the vaccines for RSV and the flu are effective and safe. But it’s the hesitancy to get them that has her worried about a wider impact. 

“I am very concerned that we are seeing a resurgence of vaccine preventable diseases,” said Cvijanovich.

As an example, she points to the two measles cases in a Texas county that borders Lea County in New Mexico. 

“People have COVID fatigue, people have vaccine fatigue. There is definitely an increase in vaccine hesitancy across the whole country,” said Cvijanovich. 

As far as not getting sick, doctors say you should continue to practice the same healthy habits we all know like washing your hands, covering your mouth when you cough and sneeze. If you are sick, stay home. 

Doctors say you should also get your vaccines.