As we find ourselves in the heart of respiratory virus season, the New York City Health Department is sounding the clarion for vigilance, with nearly 143,000 flu cases reported so far. A recent update on the New York City Health Department website reveals that the weekly case count is thankfully shrinking, but health officials persist in their urgings: go get that jab; keep washing your hands; and if you're feeling under the weather, do the courteous thing—stay at home. "Flu numbers are heading in the right direction, but the virus is unpredictable and flu season won't be over for another few months," Dr. Toni Eyssallenne, New York City Health Department Deputy Chief Medical Officer, told the media. The department reminds us that even though the flu is showing signs of a slowdown, the threat has not completely abated.
It's an unnerving truth that the ones most affected by this flu season are the youngest among us, with a staggering 52 percent of the near 143,000 positive cases being children under 18. The past week alone has seen over 2,200 new flu cases, based on laboratory reports. Meanwhile, cases of RSV remain on the higher side of the spectrum, with more than 2,200 instances flagged last week. COVID-19, on the other hand, appears to be waning, with just 954 new reports—a slight decrease from the previous week. These figures, while preliminary, are updated every Thursday on the Health Department's Respiratory Illness Data Page, providing the public with the latest virus tracking data.
The ghost of last year's flu season, which saw an unprecedented number of pediatric deaths at 289 nationwide, lingers as a reminder of the flu's potential impact. Most poignantly, a vast majority—89 percent—of those children were unvaccinated though eligible for the flu shot. Preliminary findings from the United Kingdom have indicated that this year’s vaccine could be more than 70 percent effective at preventing hospital admissions in children and adolescents.
The measures set out by the New York City Health Department have become all too familiar in the past years—vaccinations, masks, hand hygiene, and the self-isolation when ill—but their importance cannot be overstated. Out of an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 New York residents who succumb to the flu and pneumonia each year, many could be saved by implementing these protective practices. "Get vaccinated," "Wear a mask," "Wash your hands often", "Cover your coughs and sneezes," and "Clean frequently touched surfaces": reminders that bear repeating as the season continues. And while we're on the topic of vaccines, local pharmacies and several health providers offer flu, COVID-19, and RSV vaccines—often at low or no cost for uninsured individuals. Pregnant people, the elderly, and those with certain chronic conditions have additional vaccination recommendations to consider.
