Some borderland residents said even if they could they wouldn't call in sick, because of the tough economy.

"I would rather work than lose my time," said west El Pasoan Blanca Antunez.

Antunez tells KFOX14 she doesn't have any health care, and can't afford to stay at home.

"If you don't work they won't pay you, and these days everyone needs the money," said Antunez.

West El Pasoan Mathew Gannaway says his father has never called in sick.

"Bills have to be paid, you have to be paid, you made the commitment of working," said Gannaway "You have to stick to it."

This 2012-2013 flu season the Center for Disease Control reports Texas and New Mexico are going through a widespread flu outbreak.

Experts say the fact that people don't stay at home when they're sick is alarming, since in most cases a lot of people don't get the symptoms associated with the flu.

"A lot of people at work have been sick, and I think that's why a lot of people get sick," said Joshua Moreno, "They don't stay at home, they just pass it around."

So far, the virus has left 18 children dead and thousands more in the hospital around the nation.

Moreno who works at a local restaurant says those are some factors that worry him at work.

"Usually it's like, how come you couldn't stay home? You know? You're coughing on me and other people."

Doctors recommend if you have a fever of a 101 degrees to stay at home until the fever is gone.

If someone at work is sick, doctors also recommend using plenty of hand sanitizer, hand washing, and surgical masks to prevent getting sick.