New Yorkflu-season-2013New YorkVideo

Flu In NYC Reaches Epidemic Levels With 'Severe' Strain Of AH3N2; Officials Recommend Flu Shot

Flu Reaches Epidemic Levels In NYC
|
Open Image Modal
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 10: Aaron Lemma recieves a flu shot by Dr. Sassan Naderi at the Premier Care walk-in health clinic which administers flu shots on January 10, 2013 in New York City. The Flu season has hit parts of the country particularly hard this year with Boston declaring a public health emergency and a Pennsylvania hospital constructing a tent to handle excess flu cases.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 22,048 flu cases have been reported from September 30 through the end of 2012. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

New York City Health Commissioner Thomas Farley warned New Yorkers Thursday that instances of the flu in the city have reached epidemic proportions.

"It’s a bad year," Farley told reporters. "We’ve got lots of flu, it’s mainly type AH3N2, which tends to be a little more severe. So we’re seeing plenty of cases of flu and plenty of people sick with flu. Our message for any people who are listening to this is it’s still not too late to get your flu shot. If you haven’t gotten the flu yet and you haven’t gotten your flu shot yet, you could still get it."

Mayor Michael Bloomberg also stressed the importance of flu shots. “Anybody that doesn’t think so is just missing an opportunity to protect themselves," he said. "There’s no guarantees in life. You can take a flu shot, walk across the street and get hit by a car. It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take your flu shot.”

Medical officials are alarmed by the 2013 flu season, which is said to be one of the worst in a decade and also one of the earliest.

The widespread outbreak has claimed the lives of at least 18 children across the country.

According to the health commissioner, roughly five percent of emergency room visits during the past two weeks have been because of flu-like symptoms including high fever, fatigue, and coughing.

Along with the flu, officials are increasingly concerned over a spike in cases of whooping cough, the highest in 50 years.

Both Bloomberg and Governor Andrew Cuomo have received their flu shots this season and are urging New Yorkers to do the same.

(To find the nearest flu shot location, go here.)

The city has provided the following tips to prevent the spread of flu and other infections:

  • Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. Use a tissue or the inside of your elbow – not your hand.

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer (PDF).

  • Don’t get too close to people who are sick. Maintain a distance of 3 feet. If you get sick yourself, avoid close contact with other people.

Our 2024 Coverage Needs You

As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.

Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.

to keep our news free for all.

Support HuffPost

Before You Go

Flu Myths
Myth: The Flu Shot Can Give You The Flu(01 of07)
Open Image Modal
Fact: This myth just will not die. So let's clear this up: You cannot get the flu from your flu shot.Why? That vaccine is made from a dead or inactive virus that can no longer spread its fever-spiking properties. In rare cases, a person may experience a reaction to the shot that includes a low-grade fever, but these reactions are not The Flu, Everyday Health reported. Note: Even though the flu shot cannot cause the flu, there are a number of other reasons not to get the vaccine, including for some people with an allergy to eggs or a history of Guillain-Barre Syndrome. (credit:Shutterstock)
Myth: If You've Already Had Your Shot, You Are Guaranteed To Be Flu-Free(02 of07)
Open Image Modal
Fact: Unfortunately, even after slapping a bandage on that injection site, you may only be about 60 percent protected, according to the CDC. That means, yes, you can still get the flu after your shot. Some people may be exposed to the flu in the two weeks it takes for the vaccine to take effect, reports NPR. Others might be exposed to a strain not covered in the vaccine, which is made each year based on the viruses experts predict will be the most common, according to Flu.gov. (This year's batch seems to have been matched well to what is actually going around, NPR reports.) (credit:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Flickr" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5be31dcee4b02df4d204f01b" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="11" data-vars-position-in-unit="18">Flickr</a>:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/44321356@N03/4877473380" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Vix Walker" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5be31dcee4b02df4d204f01b" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/photos/44321356@N03/4877473380" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="12" data-vars-position-in-unit="19">Vix Walker</a>)
Myth: Antibiotics Can Fight The Flu(03 of07)
Open Image Modal
Fact: Plain and simply, antibiotics fight bacteria, not viruses. The flu -- and colds, for that matter -- are caused by viruses. In fact, antibiotics kill off the "good" bacteria that help to fight off infections, so that viral flu may only get worse. (credit:Shutterstock)
Myth: The Stomach Flu Is A Type Of Influenza(04 of07)
Open Image Modal
Fact: Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, while often dubbed the "stomach flu," are not typically symptoms of seasonal influenza, which, first and foremost, is a respiratory disease, according to Flu.gov. The flu can sometimes cause these issues, but they won't usually be the main symptoms -- and are more common signs of seasonal flu in children than adults. (credit:Shutterstock)
Myth: If You're Young And Healthy, You Don't Need The Shot(05 of07)
Open Image Modal
Fact: Younger, healthy adults aren't among the people the CDC urges most strongly to get vaccinated, like pregnant women, people over 65 and those with certain chronic medical conditions.The young and healthy will more often than not recover just fine from the flu, with or without the shot. But protecting yourself even if you don't think you need protecting can actually be an act of good. The more people are vaccinated, the fewer cases of flu we all pass around, which in turn offers greater protection to those at-risk groups. (credit:Shutterstock)
Myth: You Can Get The Flu From Being In The Cold Without A Coat (Or With Wet Hair)(06 of07)
Open Image Modal
Fact: Mom or Grandma probably told you this one at some point, and while you might not feel so cozy if you head out the door straight from the shower, doing so doesn't exactly condemn you to bed. The only way to catch the flu is to come into contact with the virus that causes it. That might happen while you are outside in the cold, and flu season does certainly happen during cold weather, but it's not because you're cold that you catch the bug. (credit:Alamy)
Myth: There's No Treatment For The Flu(07 of07)
Open Image Modal
Fact: It's not antibiotics that cure-seekers should be looking for. While the two antiviral drugs available to fight the flu aren't a quick fix, they canreduce the length of your bout of the flu and make you less contagious to others, according to WebMD. This year's earlier-than-usual flu season has already led to shortages of one of the drugs, Tamiflu, in the children's liquid formulation, according to the medication's manufacturers.However, a number of experts in countries around the world have questioned Tamiflu's efficacy in fighting the flu, and some have even suggested a boycott until further data is published. (credit:Shutterstock)
Suggest a correction
|
Submit a tip