New York broke a record for confirmed influenza cases in the week ending Jan. 27 with more than 11,600 cases reported, according to a Northwell Health news release.
Northwell said on Tuesday that in the previous seven days, 12 Northwell hospitals saw more than 10,500 patients with flu-like symptoms, 2,700 of whom were admitted for inpatient treatment.
During last year’s flu season there were 12,912 flu-related hospitalizations across the state, according to the Nassau County Department of Health.
“Flu season typically peaks on the East Coast in late winter, so it’s not too late to get vaccinated,” Nassau County Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Lawrence Eisenstein said in a statement in January.
Eisenstein and Nassau County Executive Laura Curran urged all residents over six months old to get vaccinated.
The number of confirmed cases of influenza in New York is the highest since the Department of Health began reporting them in 2004, according to a statement from Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
In January, Cuomo signed an executive order that allows pharmacists to give flu vaccines to children ages 2 to 18.
“With flu cases reaching epidemic proportions in New York, we must do everything in our power to fight this virus and keep New Yorkers safe,” Cuomo said in a statement. “Once again, I urge all New Yorkers to help us combat this quick-spreading strain of flu and make sure they and their loved ones are vaccinated.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, vaccination should continue throughout flu season.
In an effort to remedy the issue, Northwell Health has established a biosurveillance system to track and respond to the large volume of cases, according to the release.
The dashboard, developed by Stanley Cho, a senior data analyst at Northwell’s Krasnoff Quality Management Institute, in collaboration with the health system’s emergency operations staff, gives the Northwell staff a proactive tool to prepare for and respond to a surge in flu cases, according to the release.
The system tracks both the number of patients who tested positive for the flu and presented with flu-like symptoms, as well as capturing the strain of the virus and information about the patient such as age, sex and ZIP code.
“The new flu surveillance dashboard gives Northwell the ability to see what’s going on in near real time,” Mark Swensen, an emergency management coordinator at Northwell who helped develop the system, said in the release. “This is an important tool that helps us in terms of planning and managing patient care.”
The system also allows Northwell to manage the distribution of resources and supplies needed to treat patients and protect staff.
The pandemic is close. You could deal with the flu with my help. But these prejudices have done their job. I am Russian. You could, with the power of my blood, create the most potent cure for influenza in the world. Immunity at me is stronger in 2 times. I am Muslim. 1) In summer, I bathed 2 times a day in ice, artesian water, and now 3 times a day in icy water from a tap. And I pray in a warm room. I live 2-storeyed one-access domain 2) I drink 3 to 5 liters of water a day due to illness. 3) Nutrition and healthy drinking. 4) I do not work therefore calm. On the advice of a local immunologist made 2 immunograms (a blood test). There, all indicators are exceeded. The deputy head of the health department of the city of Almetyevsk confirmed that I have very strong immunity and the local immunologist also confirmed. It remains to receive a confirmation from 33 polyclinics. The head of the speedcenter saw my tests surprised and gladly gave permission for a second analysis. I can offer to take a cure for the flu with the help of my blood. The effect of the medicine is 100%.
Usually I am ill or sick with a flu of 2 days proceeds in very easy or light; mild form