NY sounds post-Thanksgiving flu outbreak alarm. How bad is this season so far?
Flu cases spiked about 27% in New York during Thanksgiving week, triggering public health alerts about the potential for infections to surge in coming weeks, health officials said Wednesday.
At the same time, only about 38% of adult New Yorkers had received the flu shot prior to the holiday, federal data show, which was around the national average but well below the 52% vaccine coverage reached last season.
Health officials on Wednesday urged more New Yorkers to get the flu shot to reduce the strain on hospitals, which reported a 30% weekly rise in flu hospitalizations the week ending Nov. 25, reaching 291 patients statewide, the most recent state data show.
“Everyone 6 months of age and older should get the flu shot as it is the best way to protect yourself and will lessen the symptoms if you do get sick," Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said in a statement.
"It’s not too late; get your flu shot today,” he added.
Flu has now been declared prevalent in New York, which means unvaccinated health workers must wear masks in hospitals, nursing homes and other health-related settings at heightened risk of illness, McDonald noted. The flu mask mandate stemmed from health measures initially enacted in 2013, state records show.
How bad is flu in NY 2023?
While the recent rise in flu cases in New York raised concerns, the level of spread remained well behind the record-shattering pace set last season.
For example, New York added 4,061 flu cases the most recent week this season ending Nov. 25. By contrast, that same week last season saw about 27,000 cases reported, which fueled an historically severe flu season that peaked at nearly 53,000 cases in one week in mid-December.
State health officials did not immediately provide updated flu tracking estimates for this month. The state generally updates its flu tracker website on Fridays, so the virus' post-Thanksgiving spread should come into clearer focus later this week.
Still, the unpredictable nature of viruses has experts reminding New Yorkers that this season could prove challenging, despite the fact it lacked some of the pandemic-related factors that ignited last season's flu explosion.
About 42% of children under age 18 in New York had received the flu shot prior to Thanksgiving, federal data show, which is below the nearly 47% at this point last season.
What about COVID in NY?
Meanwhile, the number of COVID-19 patients in hospitals hit about 1,605 on Tuesday, up about 33% since Thanksgiving but still well below prior holiday season spikes during the pandemic, state data show.
Wastewater testing, however, suggested COVID-19 was spreading at high levels in much of the state, which underscored the effectiveness of improved medical treatments and vaccination in limiting severe illness.
Still, only about 10% of New Yorkers have received the updated COVID-19 vaccines this fall, despite health officials calls to improve uptake to shore up immune system protections.
How to get flu, COVID vaccines in NY?
To find locations providing COVID-19 and flu vaccinations, visit the federal website, vaccines.gov, or call its hotline at 1-800-232-0233.
Is another 'tripledemic' coming in NY?
Amid the rise in flu and COVID-19 this fall, respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, infections have also increased in recent weeks, renewing concerns that New York's health system could once again face a multi-front battle against three respiratory viruses.
Last month, the state Health Department issued a statewide standing order allowing pharmacists to administer the RSV vaccination to individuals 60 and older and pregnant people without a separate prescription from their physician.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: How bad is flu in NY? What the latest infection numbers tell us
