With Christmas just a week away, doctors are warning about the so-called “tripledemic” surging across New York.<\/p>\n
According to Northwell Health on Long Island, across the state, cases of RSV are up 35%, while COVID cases are up 15%, but the flu is hitting hardest, with hospitalizations spiking 75% in just one week.<\/p>\n
Flu rising faster this year compared to 2024, doctors say<\/p>\n
It’s the holiday season, which means we’re not just spreading Christmas cheer, but also, unfortunately, respiratory viruses.<\/p>\n
In New York, cases of flu, RSV and COVID have spiked since Thanksgiving, and doctors expect that trend to continue with more holiday gatherings.<\/p>\n
“Flu is rising a lot faster than it did last year,” said Dwayne Breining, senior vice president of lab services at Northwell Health.<\/p>\n
The latest statewide data shows there were 1,399 flu hospitalizations the week ending Dec. 6, a 75% jump from 798 hospitalizations the week prior.<\/p>\n
Northwell Health, which typically cares for 2,800 hospitalized patients on a given day, saw 3,500 on Thursday.<\/p>\n
“Remember, our numbers vastly underestimate how many cases there are out there,” said Bruce Farber, chief public health and epidemiology officer at Northwell Health. “Very few people get tested.”<\/p>\n
Vaccines prevent hospitalizations, deaths, doctors say<\/p>\n
A self-swab is available at Northwell labs and physician offices to test for all three viruses at once.<\/p>\n
At Northwell’s core laboratory, more than 37% of PCR nasal swabs tested last week came back positive for a subtype of influenza A.<\/p>\n
Doctors say this year’s vaccine is not a perfect match for the new strain, but it still makes a difference.<\/p>\n
“The vaccine does help keep kids out of the hospital,” said Annemarie Stroustrup, senior vice president of pediatric services at Northwell Health.<\/p>\n
“I’ve not seen a death in somebody who’s been vaccinated, and I have seen plenty of deaths in people who have not been vaccinated,” Farber said.<\/p>\n
Flu season typically stretches into early spring, so doctors say it’s not too late to get your shot.<\/p>\n
Doctors also stress the smalls steps that can make a big difference:\u00a0 Wash your hands, and if you’re sick, wear a mask and avoid holiday gatherings.<\/p>\n
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