{"id":209673,"date":"2025-12-29T14:14:09","date_gmt":"2025-12-29T14:14:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/209673\/"},"modified":"2025-12-29T14:14:09","modified_gmt":"2025-12-29T14:14:09","slug":"flu-cases-hit-record-71123-in-new-york-state-this-week-amid-surge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/209673\/","title":{"rendered":"Flu cases hit record 71,123 in New York state this week amid surge"},"content":{"rendered":"

New flu strain emerging as a severe health threat<\/a> <\/p>\n

Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel joins ‘America’s Newsroom’ to warn of a new strain of the flu that is spiking hospitalizations across the country and newfound risks of medical marijuana’s link to psychosis.<\/p>\n

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!\n <\/p>\n

The New York State Department of Health reported a record surge in influenza activity, with 71,123 positive flu cases<\/a> recorded statewide during the week ending December 20.<\/p>\n

Health officials said the figure represents the highest number of flu cases ever reported in a single week since influenza became a reportable disease in New York in 2004.<\/p>\n

State health data show the weekly total reflects a 38% increase from the previous reporting period, signaling a rapidly intensifying flu season.<\/a><\/p>\n

There have been 189,312 reported positive flu cases so far this season, while influenza-related hospitalizations rose 63% in the most recent week.<\/p>\n

FLU BY STATE: WHERE THIS SEASON\u2019S HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS VARIANT IS SPREADING THE MOST<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Woman <\/p>\n

New York reported the highest weekly total of cases ever recorded since influenza became reportable in 2004. (iStock)<\/p>\n

“We are seeing the highest number of flu cases ever recorded in a single week in New York state,” Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said in a press release.<\/p>\n

\"Man <\/p>\n

There have been 189,312 reported flu cases so far this season, with influenza-related hospitalizations increasing 63% in the most recent week. (iStock)<\/p>\n

Earlier this month, the department declared influenza prevalent statewide, a designation that requires unvaccinated health care workers to wear masks in patient care settings.<\/p>\n

SURGE IN WHOOPING COUGH CASES IN SOUTHERN STATE PROMPTS HEALTH ALERTS<\/a><\/p>\n

Health officials continue to emphasize that vaccination remains the most effective<\/a> way to prevent severe illness and hospitalization from influenza.<\/p>\n

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES<\/a><\/p>\n

New Yorkers who have not yet received a seasonal flu shot are still encouraged to do so, with experts saying vaccination can offer protection even later in the season.<\/p>\n

\"Sick <\/p>\n

Health officials continue to urge New Yorkers to take preventive steps, including vaccination and staying home when sick, to limit further spread. (iStock)<\/p>\n

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER<\/a><\/p>\n

To help limit further spread, the department advises individuals experiencing flu-like symptoms \u2014 including fever, cough, sore throat, or body aches \u2014 to stay home. State health officials<\/a> also recommend frequent handwashing, using hand sanitizer, and avoiding close contact with sick individuals.<\/p>\n

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/a><\/p>\n

For those who become ill, officials say antiviral medications<\/a> are available and are most effective when started within 48 hours of symptom onset.<\/p>\n

Health officials also added that people at higher risk for complications should contact a health care provider promptly for evaluation and possible treatment.<\/p>\n

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ<\/a><\/p>\n

The department noted that flu activity typically peaks in January, meaning case counts could continue to climb in the weeks ahead.<\/p>\n

Khloe Quill is a lifestyle<\/a> production assistant with Fox News Digital. She and the lifestyle team cover a range of story topics including food and drink, travel, and health.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"New flu strain emerging as a severe health threat Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel joins…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":209674,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[4053,163,85,6872,46,482,1886,558],"class_list":{"0":"post-209673","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-medication","8":"tag-cold-and-flu","9":"tag-health","10":"tag-il","11":"tag-infectious-disease","12":"tag-israel","13":"tag-medication","14":"tag-new-york","15":"tag-wellness"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/209673","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=209673"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/209673\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/209674"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=209673"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=209673"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=209673"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}