Flu season came early in New York, and experts warn the state is heading into its worst stretch in more than a decade.
Cases shot up just as holiday shopping kicked in on Black Friday weekend and when it hit, Syracuse resident Talia Galante said it hit hard.
“I’ve had colds and stuff where I haven’t been, like, super fatigued,” she recalled getting sick in the past. “But, like when I got the flu, I was bedridden.”
Flu season in New York typically begins to climb in December. However, on December 1, the New York State Health Department reported cases were already up just over 295% from last year.
Medical practitioners say one factor behind the surge is that this year’s flu vaccine is outdated and doesn’t match the strain now circulating.
“Because of how the virus replicates, there has just been a high level of mutations that have caused the virus to be so different from what we have expected,” said Emilio Penate with Upstate Medical University, who further explained “that we haven't been able to produce vaccines that are as effective to protect against this particular strain,” Peñate said.”
Even so, Peñate stressed that people should keep their vaccination appointments.
“It’s still important for everyone who is able and willing to get vaccinated to prevent spread of these other subtypes that can still be dangerous for a lot of people’s health,” he said.
He added that basic precautions including washing hands frequently and staying home when feeling sick will help prevent influenza and other airborne viruses from spreading.
