The technical start of the flu season was several weeks ago in New York State but case counts remained low. Based on the data from the NYS Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control, it would appear the seasonal illness is beginning to take hold.
Nationally, the CDC report for the week ending December 25 has five states with widespread activity. In the deep South, Georgia, Mississippi and Alabama are reporting widespread influenza. Virginia is, as well, as is New York State.
New York's Department of Health is reporting visits to emergency departments in hospitals for flu-like symptoms to be highest in the Hudson River Valley and on Long Island. Two children are reported to have died from influenza related illness this year.
Both the CDC and NYSDoH are finding that the predominate strain of flu is Type A, which is normal for the seasonal flu. The CDC reports that two thirds of the viruses tested were type A and the remainder type B. Of the type A viruses that were sub-typed, nearly all were H3. To date, the flu vaccine prepared for 2010-2011 is expected to immunize against the types being found in patients.
285 patients have been reported to have been hospitalized for the flu in New York State this season. For those cases with patient age reported, the majority have been under age 4 or over age 65. This is the expected age distribution for the seasonal flu.
The CDC has an extensive website devoted to influenza. New York provides a website with information about influenza and state-related flu information.
Comments