PHOENIX — For the first time this season, the number of new flu cases in Graham County is below the five-year average.
This is according to the latest data released by the Arizona Department of Health.
Flu counts declined in four of the five weeks reported in January, 9.6% below the five-year average for the week of January 1, and 70.5 percent below the five-year average for the week of January 1. 22.
Despite recent downward trends, Graham County’s total flu cases are well above the five-year average.
There have been 483 cases so far this season, 180.8% above the five-year average for this time of the flu season.
Nearly half of those who contracted influenza this season were children, with 72 in children aged 0-4 and 164 in adolescents aged 5-18.
The elderly group is least affected by influenza, with 53 cases aged 50-64 years and 50 cases aged 65 years and over.
Greenlee County is now seeing a similar drop in new cases, down 45.5% in January.
But like Graham County, Greenlee’s total cases this season are well above its five-year average.
There have been 268 cases so far, 514% above the five-year average.
Again, school-aged children aged 5 to 18 years dominated the new cases in Greenlee this season, with 37 cases in children aged 0 to 4 years and 37 cases in children aged 0 to 18 years. 113 cases in children of
