New York State is experiencing the highest number of flu cases ever recorded in a single week, according to a New York State Department of Health press release issued Friday afternoon, Dec. 26.
The department said 71,123 laboratory-confirmed flu cases were reported statewide for the seven-day period ending Dec. 20, the highest weekly total since influenza was made reportable in 2004. The total represents a 38% increase over the prior week, the department said.
Hospitalizations also climbed sharply. NYSDOH reported 3,666 influenza-related hospitalizations statewide for the same week, up 63% from the previous week.
On Long Island, Suffolk County recorded 7,571 cases for the week ending Dec. 20, including 6,402 confirmed influenza type A cases, according to the state’s Flu-Tracker dashboard. Nassau County recorded 7,924 cases, including 6,875 confirmed type A cases. Nassau and Suffolk posted the highest county totals outside New York City. Suffolk recorded 313 flu hospitalizations for the week.
County-level case counts and hospitalizations are published by NYSDOH through Health Data NY datasets that break down influenza activity by week and county.
Statewide this flu season through Dec. 20, NYSDOH reported 189,312 laboratory-confirmed cases and 9,059 hospitalizations.
Earlier this month, the state declared influenza “prevalent,” a designation that requires health care facilities and agencies to ensure that personnel who have not received this season’s flu vaccine wear masks in areas where patients and residents may be present, according to the department.
Nationally, influenza activity is also increasing. In its most recent weekly FluView surveillance update (Week 50, ending Dec. 13), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported “sustained elevated activity” across multiple indicators and said flu activity is expected to continue for weeks.
CDC reported that influenza A made up nearly all viruses identified by public health labs, and that more than three-quarters of influenza A viruses were subtyped; among those, nearly 90% were A(H3N2) “subclade K,” according to the CDC.
The CDC also estimated at least 4.6 million illnesses, 49,000 hospitalizations and 1,900 deaths from flu so far this season.
Because of the Christmas holiday, the CDC said its Week 51 FluView report will be posted on Dec. 30.
Health officials continue to urge vaccination and common-sense precautions such as staying home when sick and practicing everyday preventive measures. The CDC recommends an annual flu vaccine for everyone 6 months and older who has not yet been vaccinated this season, and notes that prescription antiviral medications can help treat flu, especially for people at higher risk for complications, if started early.
While state case counts reflect laboratory-confirmed reports, both state and federal public health agencies caution that flu illness in the community can be broader than surveillance numbers alone because not everyone who gets sick seeks care or gets tested.
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