{"id":116371,"date":"2026-01-29T15:38:07","date_gmt":"2026-01-29T15:38:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/116371\/"},"modified":"2026-01-29T15:38:07","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T15:38:07","slug":"what-nyc-families-need-to-know-about-flu-rsv-and-covid-19-this-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/116371\/","title":{"rendered":"What NYC families need to know about flu, RSV and COVID-19 this season"},"content":{"rendered":"

New York City is still feeling the impact of flu season, with more than 140,000 lab-confirmed cases so far. Over half have been in children under 18. The numbers are slowly declining, though more than 3,600 cases were reported for the week ending Jan. 17, according to data from the city health department<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThis flu season has been tough on families,\u201d Dr. Michelle Morse<\/a>, acting commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, said in a press release dated Jan. 22. \u201cDon\u2019t let your guard down.\u201d Flu seasons are unpredictable and can last through May, she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Other viruses are circulating too<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0The rate of RSV infections remains highest among children.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2022 While COVID cases were lower in the week ending Jan. 17 than the previous week, hospital admissions for coronavirus were rising.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Seasonal viruses like these can cause serious illness, especially in kids, older adults and people with underlying health conditions.<\/p>\n

How the US departure from WHO hurts NY\u00a0<\/p>\n

NYC is a hub for travelers, immigrants and millions of visitors each year. That\u2019s why Dr. Morse warned New Yorkers about the broader risks of infectious diseases after the U.S. withdrew from the World Health Organization<\/a> (WHO).<\/p>\n

\u201cDisease knows no boundaries \u2014 an outbreak abroad is an outbreak at home,\u201d she said in a statement on Jan. 23, a day after the withdrawal became final. \u201cNYC is often impacted first and hardest.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Since WHO coordinates global surveillance for flu, coronavirus and other illnesses, the city\u2019s health department may now get this information later or in more fragmented ways<\/a>. This may slow detection of emerging threats that could affect New Yorkers. It may also interfere with the city\u2019s planning for an outbreak response.\u00a0<\/p>\n

How the most recent flu shot fares against the newer strain\u00a0<\/p>\n

Researchers in the U.K. found some evidence that this year\u2019s flu vaccine was more than 70% effective<\/a> at keeping children out of the hospital. Last year\u2019s flu season had hit a new record for flu-related deaths of children, with 289 reported nationwide. Of those, 89% hadn\u2019t been vaccinated.\u00a0<\/p>\n

How to protect your family<\/p>\n

You may have seen more masked riders on your last commute. It\u2019s just one of several familiar steps you can take to protect yourself and loved ones:<\/p>\n

Get vaccinated for flu, COVID-19 and RSV if you\u2019re eligible.<\/p>\n

Stay home if you or your children are sick.<\/p>\n

Mask up in crowded indoor spaces.<\/p>\n

Wash your hands often and clean commonly touched surfaces.<\/p>\n

Vaccines are widely available across the city, including free options for uninsured residents. Here\u2019s where to find some of them<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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