PHOENIX — For the first time this season, the number of new flu cases in Graham County is dropping below the five-year average.
That’s according to the most recent data released by the Arizona Department of Health Services.
Four of the five reporting weeks in January showed flu numbers in decline, ranging from 9.6 percent below the five-year average the week of Jan. 1, to 70.5 percent below — when there were just five new confirmed cases — the week of Jan. 22.
Despite the recent downward trend, the number of total number of flu cases in Graham County is greatly outpacing the five-year average.
There have been 483 cases so far this season, 180.8 percent more than the five-year average for this time in the flu season.
Almost half of those experiencing flu this season have been children, with 72 of the cases in children 0-4 years old and 164 in youths 5-18 years old.
The older age groups have been hit lightest by flu, with 53 cases in those 50-64, and 50 cases in those 65 and older.
Greenlee County is currently experiencing a similar decline in new cases, down 45.5 percent in January.
But just like in Graham County, Greenlee’s total number of cases this season is significantly greater than the five-year average.
There have been 268 cases so far, 514 percent more than the five-year average.
Again, school-aged children 5-18 have accounted for a preponderance of the new cases in Greenlee this season, with 37 cases in children 0-4, and 113 cases in children 5-18.
