Amid a rising number of influenza cases in New York, classes were canceled Tuesday in the Coxsackie-Athens Central School District due to a significant increase of ill students across its schools, the district said.

The district reported more than one-fifth of its student population was absent with many experiencing flu-like symptoms, fever and a stomach bug. It said it canceled classes to prioritize the health and well-being of students, families and staff.

Cases of the flu continue to rise across the state, especially in parts of Western New York. The New York State Flu Health Tracker shows that between the week of Dec. 6-13, the number of flu cases in Erie County rose by 115%. The Erie County Department of Health urged all residents ages 6 months and older to get their annual flu vaccine. 

There were 47,522 influenza cases reported in the state in the week ending Dec. 13 – the latest data available on the state Health Department website – compared to 8,806 during the same week last year and 21,518 the same week of 2023-24. The 47,522 cases mark an 83% increase from the previous week this season, for a total number of 113,718 cases so far this 2025-26 season. 

There were 21,159 flu cases reported this season so far in the 5-17 age group, the most of any age group, according to the state.

Hospitalizations statewide for influenza during the week ending Dec. 13 totaled 2,251, up 61% from the previous week, compared to 520 in the same week in 2024-25 and 1,214 the same week of 2023-24, according to the tracker.