Albany, N.Y. - The number of people affected by the flu is continuing to increase statewide.
According to the Department of Health, there were 17,000 confirmed cases of the virus during the week ending February 1st. That's a 15-percent increase from the week before. Over 1,800 people were hospitalized due to complications from the flu, down eight percent from the last report.
Doctors continue to say the best way to prevent getting sick is to get your flu shot.