By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews
New York State health officials say seasonal flu activity continues to increase across the state with at least one lab-confirmed case in all 62 counties.
The number of laboratory-confirmed flu cases and hospitalizations continue to be widespread since the flu season began in October. Flu season occurs primarily from October through May, and the 2019-20 season has yet to peak.
Last week 1,889 New Yorkers were hospitalized with lab-confirmed influenza. This season, there have been 13,460 flu-related hospitalizations. In addition, last week, 17,231 laboratory-confirmed flu cases were reported to the State Department of Health, a 15 percent increase in cases from the week prior. The most lab-confirmed influenza cases reported during a single week in a flu season was 18,252 in 2017-18.
There has been a total of 89,597 lab-confirmed cases reported in New York State this season, with three flu-associated pediatric deaths.
Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports the proportion of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses compared to influenza B viruses is increasing.
CDC estimates that so far this season there have been at least 22 million flu illnesses, 210,000 hospitalizations and 12,000 deaths from flu.
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