Flu Spread Slows Again As Fewer New Yorkers Catch Virus

NEW YORK, NY — This year's historic flu season continued to dwindle last week as fewer New Yorkers caught the virus for the third straight week, officials said Thursday. The state Department of Health recorded just 3,692 new flu cases in the week ending March 10, a 42 percent drop from the prior week and a 78 percent drop from a month before.

The number of New Yorkers hospitalized with the flu also fell 35 percent to 694. That reflects about a 71 percent drop from the week ending Feb. 10, Department of Health figures show.

"I am encouraged to see yet another decrease in the number of flu cases across the state, but we must remain vigilant against the spread of the virus," Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement. "If you haven't already been vaccinated, I urge you to do so and to please stay home if you are sick to avoid spreading the illness."

The flu hit New York especially hard this season, resulting in several weeks of record-high numbers of new cases.

Some 111,410 New Yorkers have caught the flu since the season began in October — more than twice the roughly 49,000 cases reported as of this time last year, Department of Health figures show. About 37 percent of this year's cases have come from New York City.

Some 20,114 people have been hospitalized with the virus so far this season, state officials said. That's nearly double the average of 10,571 hospitalizations that officials said were recorded over the previous four years.

The state has tried to make it easier to get flu shots, which health officials say is the best way to ward off the virus despite its relative inefficacy against this year's most prevalent flu strain. Some 8,879 kids from 2 to 18 years old have gotten shots since Cuomo authorized pharmacists to vaccinate kids as young as 2 in January, the governor's office said.

"As we continue to see a widespread number of flu cases across the state, I encourage anyone who is sick to take appropriate precautions and stay home from work or school," Dr. Howard Zucker, the state health commissioner, said in a statement. "Thanks to the Governor's actions this flu season, more New Yorkers have had access to a flu vaccine, which remains the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from the flu."

Here's a map showing where you can get a flu shot if you still need one.

(Lead image: Photo by Rido/Shutterstock)