New York's Flu Season Arrives Six Weeks Early, Hitting Children Hardest
Statewide Cases Near 6,500, Quadruple Last Year's Tally
Health Commissioner Declares Flu "Prevalent"
On Oct. 26, New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald declared flu "prevalent" in the state. "It's here early, but it's all over the state this year early. It's about six weeks early," McDonald said, adding that the health department and doctors are ready, but "I don't think the public's ready." Older adults, young children, pregnant women, nursing home residents and people with asthma, lung disease, heart disease, diabetes or obesity face the highest risk of complications.
Children See the Fastest Rise in New York City
Children are the group with the most rapidly rising case counts. Dr. Andrea Howard, deputy commissioner of disease control for the New York City Department of Health, said more than 260,000 children in the city had received flu shots so far this season, similar to this time last year. At the current pace, about 40 percent of children citywide would be vaccinated by the end of winter. Dr. Jennifer Duchon, a pediatric infectious disease expert at Mount Sinai Children's Hospital, said her hospital has started seeing flu cases in children.
A Mutated H1N1 Is Driving the Early Surge
Influenza A H1N1 is fueling the vast majority of cases in the United States so far this season, a shift from last winter, when the H3N2 subclade K "superflu" dominated. The circulating H1N1 has picked up a new mutation that may help it evade pre-existing immunity, according to NBC News and Northeastern University researcher Samuel Scarpino, who said "what we're seeing in the U.S. right now is almost entirely H1N1, carrying a mutation that helps it evade some existing immunity." Duchon warned that "the H1N1 strain this year hasn't been seen by a lot of younger folk, so it may be more severe in them." CDC data show positive tests reported by clinical labs hit 5 percent, a 10-year high for this time of year.
Vaccines Still Blunt Severe Illness
What Comes Next: Clinics Push Shots as Hospitalizations Climb
NYC Health + Hospitals is urging New Yorkers to get annual flu and COVID-19 shots during respiratory virus season, with most pharmacies, clinics and doctors' offices offering the updated vaccines. Health officials also advise masks, frequent handwashing and staying home when sick. With hospitalizations rising alongside cases, physicians urge parents of very young children and those with asthma, cancer or lung disease to contact a pediatrician promptly if symptoms appear or worsen.
