Flu Sickens Thousands In Past Week In NYC

NEW YORK, NY – Flu continued to sicken New Yorkers in the past week as thousands of new cases were confirmed. New York City's health department said the illness is widespread.

In the week ending January 26, 6,816 patients were postively tested for flu, the health department said. That's 30 percent more than the week before. Of them, 988 were hospitalized.

Across the country, the disease is now widespread in all but five states. According to the latest statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 24 children have died from flu-related causes during the ongoing flu season – one in New York City.

The H1N1 virus (Swine Flu) continues to be the predominant strain in most of the country. FDA Director Scott Gottlieb has said that the H1N1 strain tends to peak late in the season but that the current vaccine has a 60 percent effectiveness.

Early estimates from the CDC found that by mid-November 2018, 45.6 percent of children aged between 6 months to 17 years old had been vaccinated against the flu, an increase of 6.8 percent compared to early estimates from the previous season. For adults 18 and older, the CDC’s estimates showed that by mid-November, 44.9 percent had been vaccinated against the flu, an increase of 6.4 percent compared to early estimates from the previous season.

The flu can cause serious illness, hospitalization and death. The groups most at risk are older adults, very young children, pregnant women and those with certain chronic medical conditions, according to the CDC.

You can use the CDC’s flu vaccine finder to locate a pharmacy or clinic near you that provides the vaccine:

According to the CDC, symptoms of the flu include:

• Fever or feeling feverish/chills (Though not everyone with flu will have a fever)
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Muscle or body aches
• Headaches
• Fatigue (tiredness)
• Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.

(Lead image: A registered nurse prepares to administer a flu shot .Photo by David Goldman/Associated Press)