{"id":83094,"date":"2025-12-28T23:44:09","date_gmt":"2025-12-28T23:44:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/83094\/"},"modified":"2025-12-28T23:44:09","modified_gmt":"2025-12-28T23:44:09","slug":"record-breaking-flu-numbers-reported-in-new-york-state-sparking-warnings-from-officials","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/83094\/","title":{"rendered":"Record-breaking flu numbers reported in New York state, sparking warnings from officials"},"content":{"rendered":"

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.<\/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

Read On The Fox News App<\/a><\/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.<\/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.<\/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

Original article source: Record-breaking flu numbers reported in New York state, sparking warnings from officials<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The New York State Department of Health reported a record surge in influenza activity, with 71,123 positive flu…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":83095,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[31753,4517,31754,9,11,10,49,51,50,40738],"class_list":["post-83094","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-new-york","tag-flu-season","tag-health-officials","tag-influenza","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-headlines","tag-new-york-news","tag-new-york-state","tag-new-york-state-headlines","tag-new-york-state-news","tag-the-new-york"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83094","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=83094"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83094\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/83095"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=83094"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=83094"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=83094"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}