Officials: Flu cases setting records in NY

<p>Flu season is potentially peaking in New York, as doctors at Nyack Hospital say dozens of people are walking through the doors every day due to the flu.</p>

News 12 Staff

Jan 24, 2018, 10:40 PM

Updated 2,292 days ago

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Flu season is potentially peaking in New York, as doctors at Nyack Hospital say dozens of people are walking through the doors every day due to the flu.

Dr. Jeff Rabrich, medical director of the emergency room at Nyack Hospital, says the flu continues to be a big problem in Rockland County.

"All of my colleagues at other facilities that I have talked to are seeing a very high number of flu patients, particularly in the last couple of weeks. A vast majority are not having to be admitted to the hospital, but admissions are up and the beds are all full, pretty much everywhere,” he says.
Flu season is setting records in New York state. According to the Department of Health, more than 6,000 confirmed cases were reported in the state in just the second week of January – a 54 percent increase from the week prior.
Officials say a big problem this season is a severe strain called H3N2. According to the CDC's latest data, the flu has killed 30 children nationwide so far this season.
Doctors say it’s still not too late to get a flu shot.

"We're still in the middle of flu season, and it still can provide some immunity even this late into the season,” says Rabrich.

Rabrich assures residents that they cannot get the flu from the flu shot since it’s not a live virus vaccine.


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