Flu Still Running Rampant In New York As 18K More Catch Virus

NEW YORK, NY — The flu sickened another record-breaking number of New Yorkers last week even as the virus sent disease from the hospital, according to new figures released Thursday. The state Department of Health recorded 18,258 new cases of the flu last week — including more than 7,400 in New York City.

That's a 9-percent increase from the prior week and the highest number since flu reporting began in 2004, state officials say. Some 2,160 people were hospitalized with the flu, 13 percent fewer than the previous week.

The new numbers reflect the continued spread of the flu in a season in which the A(H3N2) strain of the virus is most prevalent, health officials say. This year's flu vaccine is only about 25 percent effective against that type, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It's typical for flu activity to peak around this time of year, said Dr. Jaime Khemraj, the infection control officer and medical director at the William F. Ryan Community Health Network's Upper West Side location. But the A(H3N2) virus is "knocking people off their feet" as this season's vaccine struggles to attack it, she said.

"It’s a virus that has the ability to be a chameleon," Khemraj said of the flu in an interview last week. "It changes from year to year."

The flu has been widespread in New York for 11 straight weeks and has sickened more than 87,600 people since the flu season began in October, state officials say. More than a third of the cases — 32,710 — have come from New York City, state figures show.

It's unknown how many deaths the virus has caused this year, but it's killed five children so far, including four in the five boroughs, health officials say.

Despite the vaccine's struggles this year, health officials still say getting a flu shot is the best way to prevent the virus from taking hold. Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday extended an executive order allowing pharmacists to vaccinate kids as young as 2 to expand access to the vaccine. Cuomo wants the state Legislature to make his executive order a lasting law.

"Even though fewer New Yorkers were hospitalized with influenza last week, New Yorkers must continue to be vigilant," Dr. Howard Zucker, the state health commissioner, said in a statement. "Governor Cuomo is taking bold actions to help keep New Yorkers healthy, including ensuring people across the state have access to flu vaccines and antiviral medications."

The virus will spread less as more people get vaccinated, Khemraj said. She said this year's vaccine has been most effective in kids between 6 months and 5 years old, who can be most vulnerable to the flu.

It's important for parents to look out for warning signs of the flu, such as a fever that won't go away, a blue or grey tint to the skin, or crying without tears, Khemraj said.

"The warning signs are something that we really want parents and guardians to know — get your child to doctor," Khemraj said.

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

(Lead image: A nurse practitioner prepares a flu shot in Rockville, Maryland in 2010. Photo by Evan Vucci/Associated Press)