More than 4,500 New York residents were hospitalized with the flu last week — marking the highest number ever recorded in a single week, health officials said.
The state Department of Health said there were 4,546 flu hospitalizations last week, a 24% increase from the week before.
Health officials are warning of severe influenza cases and spread season and are urging people to get vaccinated if they haven’t.
“We are having a more severe flu season than prior years, almost 1,000 more people were admitted to a hospital during this most recent seven-day period compared to the prior week,” state Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said in a statement on Friday.
“There is still time to get a flu shot and remember, flu can be treated with antiviral medication if started within 48 hours of symptom onset and your doctor deems appropriate.”
The number of people diagnosed with the flu overall — not just those who were hospitalized — also reached a record high last month of more than 72,000. Cases dropped last week by about a third to 49,000, state data show.
Children, pregnant women, those with chronic medical conditions or those 65 years or older are at the highest risk for developing complications from the flu.
Health officials say the best protection against the flu remains getting vaccinated. Vaccines are available at pharmacies, health care clinics or doctor’s offices and can be administered to children six months or older.
Other ways to prevent the spread of influenza includes: washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched areas, staying home when sick, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands and coughing or sneezing into a tissue and then discarding it.