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Central New York residents are seeing continued relief from influenza as the region reports a second consecutive week of declining cases. According to the latest data for the week ending January 17, Onondaga County led the region with 286 cases, followed by Oneida County with 173 cases and Oswego County with 72 cases.
This marks a significant improvement from earlier in January when Onondaga County reported 727 cases for the week ending January 3. The downward trend began the following week when cases dropped to 397 in Onondaga County, 213 in Oneida County, and 144 in Oswego County.
Despite the encouraging decline, health officials emphasize that flu activity remains high throughout New York State. The current flu season has been particularly challenging, with Syracuse hospitals experiencing record numbers of patients.
"It's having a toll on our local hospitals," said Dr. Kathryn Anderson, Onondaga County health commissioner, noting that emergency rooms and hospital beds have been full. Syracuse's three hospital systems have reported flu admissions approximately four times higher than the same period last year.
The severity of this season prompted both Upstate University Hospital and St. Joseph's Hospital to establish incident command centers to manage the influx of patients. St. Joseph's reported seeing 40 more patients daily in its emergency room due to flu-related illnesses.
State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald continues to stress the importance of vaccination. "Vaccination is still the best protection, and if you do get the flu, prescription treatment in the first 48 hours can be very effective," he stated.
Health officials advise that while the current dominant strain has been spreading rapidly, it is not expected to be unusually deadly. No local children have died from flu so far this season. However, the virus has disproportionately affected vulnerable populations including seniors, infants, and those with compromised immune systems.
For those experiencing flu symptoms, Dr. Anderson recommends that otherwise healthy individuals stay home and avoid hospitals unless they develop serious symptoms such as difficulty breathing, chest pain, dizziness, or uncontrollable vomiting. Those at higher risk for complications should contact their primary care provider within the first 48 hours of symptoms, when antiviral medications are most effective.
Although January and February typically represent the peak of flu season, health officials emphasize that it's not too late to get vaccinated. Residents can find nearby vaccination clinics by visiting vaccines.gov.