STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Staten Island’s new flu case numbers fell by half last week, marking the first time in 10 weeks a drop has been recorded in the borough, according to the latest state Health Department data.

Yet flu hospitalizations continued to climb on the Island, in the city and across the state during the last week of 2025, as lower reported case numbers don’t necessarily mean fewer severe cases in the pipeline.

And several weeks of peak flu season lie ahead, doctors say.

A strain of Influenza A virus called H3, dubbed the ‘super flu,’ because of its severity, is hitting hardest, the state agency reports. Ninety-five percent of cases in New York have been influenza A/H3, while 5% have been influenza A/H1, according to the agency’s most recently published data.

In the U.S. the 2025-2025 flu season has been dominated by the H3N2 variant, which accounts for 86% of Influnza A cases, according to Dr. Ana Mendez, chief of Ambulatory Pediatrics at Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton.

The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times, can lead to death.

The 1,297 cases reported in the borough for the week ending Dec. 27, 2025 are a drop from the 2,429 reported the week prior—though still more cases than were recorded any single week in the last two flu seasons, the state says.

When it comes to hospitalizations, though, 130 were reported on Staten Island, up from 95 the previous week.

The contradiction may be caused by a time delay between infection and serious illness. Hospitalization numbers this week may reflect illness reported in a previous week, doctors say.

Also, many with mild symptoms don’t get tested at all, while those who develop serious symptom seek care in hospitals and are ultimately admitted, medical authorities say, accounting for the difference in numbers.

“Children oftentimes are admitted due to dehydration and require IV fluids as part of their symptomatic care,’’ said Dr. Dolly Sharma, a pediatrician at Northwell Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze. ”Recent holidays may have also been a factor, as families travel outside of town . . . may have still been experiencing mild symptoms but not sought medical attention or been tested.”

Flu Influenza A activity in country usually peaks from January through March, Sharma said. Influenza B infection comes typically after Influenza A and it peaks from March through May, she said.

Most admissions for viral ilnesses in the first three weeks of December were children with Influenza A, Mendez said. The same is true at RUMC’s Pediatric Clinic, she said.

Citywide, emergency department visits resulting in a flu diagnosis dropped a bit this past week to 7.92%, down from 8.88% the previous week, according to the Health Department. Hospitalizations caused by the flu, though, crept a bit higher, rising to 14.66% from 14.64%.

On Dec. 30, 2025, the CDC updated the nation’s weekly respiratory illness level to “high” for the first time in the current 2025-2026 season. The federal agency still ranks the level in New York City as “very high.”

Preventing the flu

There are everyday preventive actions people can take to help slow the spread of respiratory illnesses, the CDC says. These include covering coughs and sneezes, washing hands often, and staying home when sick. Individuals who are eligible can get vaccinated for flu, COVID-19 and RSV.

The agency also recommends flu antiviral treatment as soon as possible in people who are very sick or people at higher risk of developing serious complications because of their age or the presence of certain underlying conditions.

Vaccination is a critical element in prevention, Sharma said.

Although some individuals who receive the vaccine still acquire the flu virus, data indicates that being vaccinated may provide some protection against the virus, leading to milder symptoms and may prevent hospitalizations,’’ Sharma said.

Statewide

Hospitalizations rose across New York state this week by 24% for the week ending Dec. 27, with 4,546 reported. This is up from 3,666 for the week ending Dec. 20, the Health Department reported.

A total of 13,000 hospitalizations have been reported for the season so far in New York, the state Health Department reported today. By comparison, just over 1,500 hospitalizations were reported in the state for the same week last year.

Pediatric death in New York

Another pediatric flu-related death was reported in New York state this week, doubling the number for the season, as cases of child and teen deaths increase across the country amid a severe outbreak of Influenza A. For privacy reasons, the state Health Department does not disclose details related to pediatric deaths, though Sharma said no pediatric deaths have been reported on Staten Island.

The flu virus can be dangerous for the pediatric population, as children can experience more GI symptoms, like vomiting and diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration, Sharma said, noting that some children may present with a bacterial pneumonia compounded with the flu virus, which can cause breathing difficulty.

“Severe complications occur in 6% to 20% of hospitalized children, including pneumonia as well as other bacterial co-infections, ICU admission and mechanical ventilation,’’ Sharma said. Neurologic complications occur in approximately 8% to 11% of hospitalized chldren, with influenza, mostly in kids 2 to 4 years of age, she said.

Earlier this week, Paul Kim, a Catholic social media influencer, said Thursday that his 5-year-old son died from a severe case of the flu, NBC News reported.

And a healthy 16-year-old Ohio girl, Ryleigh Spurlock, also died from the flu, Greene County officials confirmed to the media. Ryleigh did not receive a flu vaccine this year, her family told Fox19Now.

Across the nation, the CDC has reported a total of eight influenza-associated pediatric deaths as of Dec. 20, 2025, the most recent week for which data is available, with five of those reported in a single week.

States hit hardest in addition to New York are New Jersey, South Carolina, Louisiana and Colorado, the CDC reports. States with the fewest number of cases include South Dakota and Montana.