Long Island Flu Cases Surge, Doubling in a Week, Health officials Warn
manhasset, NY – Flu cases are rapidly increasing across Long Island, with both Nassau and Suffolk counties reporting critically important jumps in infections over the past week, according to data released by the New York State Department of Health. The surge is prompting renewed calls for vaccination as health officials brace for a possibly severe flu season.
Suffolk County recorded 562 cases for the week ending November 22nd, more than double the 223 cases reported the previous week.Nassau County saw a similar trend,with cases climbing from 378 to 726 during the same period.Statewide, confirmed flu cases also experienced a ample increase, tho officials caution these numbers represent only a portion of actual infections due to limited testing.
“Last year we started to see in our region a really steep incline toward the middle of December,” said Dr. David Hirschwerk, medical director of North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, noting that flu cases and hospitalizations are “a little bit higher” than this time last year.
The rise in cases is linked, in part, to a newly circulating variant, a subclade K of the H3N2 influenza strain.This variant emerged after this season’s flu vaccine was formulated and has been responsible for the majority of flu cases in Japan and the United Kingdom.
While RSV and COVID-19 are currently circulating at lower levels than last year,experts warn that the upcoming holiday season and increased gatherings could fuel further transmission of respiratory viruses.
State data shows hospitalizations are also on the rise: COVID-19 hospitalizations increased by 2% to 292, RSV by 21% to 152, and flu by a dramatic 99% to 413 for the week ending November 22nd.
Adding to the concern, vaccination rates remain low. Only approximately 20% of Nassau County residents and 17% of Suffolk County residents have received a flu vaccine so far this season. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the flu vaccine for everyone over 6 months of age.
“We are preparing for a challenging flu season and reminding parents that contrary to popular belief, the flu is potentially very serious for children,” said Dr. Eve Meltzer Krief, a pediatrician at Allied Physicians Group’s Huntington Village Pediatrics. She highlighted that the U.S. saw 280 influenza-associated pediatric deaths last year, with New York State reporting 27 – both record highs. “Most were not fully vaccinated and almost half did not have an underlying health condition that could have made them more vulnerable.”
Dr. Krief emphasized that even with a less-than-ideal vaccine match, vaccination “significantly reduces the risk for serious illness, hospitalization and death from the flu.”
Dr. Hirschwerk urged residents to get vaccinated immediately.”We are probably going to see a real climb [in flu cases] shortly,” he said. ”There’s no time like now to get it.”