New York City's Flu Cases Plummet, but Health Officials Warn It's Not Over Yet
A downward trend in flu cases is welcome news for New Yorkers, with lab-confirmed cases dropping by 43% to around 2,200 last week. This represents a significant decline from just a month ago, when the city reported more than 32,000 cases in a single week.
Despite this encouraging trend, health officials are cautioning that flu season is far from over. According to Dr. Toni Eyssallenne, deputy chief medical officer of the city's health department, "Flu numbers are heading in the right direction, but the virus is unpredictable and flu season won’t be over for another few months."
The statistics bear this out. Last year's flu season was particularly devastating, claiming 289 pediatric deaths nationwide. A staggering 89% of eligible children had not received a flu shot, highlighting the need for continued vigilance.
While the city's health department is monitoring other respiratory viruses, such as RSV and COVID-19, it's clear that these illnesses still pose a significant threat to public health. RSV rates remain elevated, with over 2,200 lab-confirmed cases last week, while COVID-19 levels continue to fall.
A downward trend in flu cases is welcome news for New Yorkers, with lab-confirmed cases dropping by 43% to around 2,200 last week. This represents a significant decline from just a month ago, when the city reported more than 32,000 cases in a single week.
Despite this encouraging trend, health officials are cautioning that flu season is far from over. According to Dr. Toni Eyssallenne, deputy chief medical officer of the city's health department, "Flu numbers are heading in the right direction, but the virus is unpredictable and flu season won’t be over for another few months."
The statistics bear this out. Last year's flu season was particularly devastating, claiming 289 pediatric deaths nationwide. A staggering 89% of eligible children had not received a flu shot, highlighting the need for continued vigilance.
While the city's health department is monitoring other respiratory viruses, such as RSV and COVID-19, it's clear that these illnesses still pose a significant threat to public health. RSV rates remain elevated, with over 2,200 lab-confirmed cases last week, while COVID-19 levels continue to fall.
but im glad its going down tho! 
43% is still a big drop tho...idk if ppl r ready 2 let their guard down 
like, flu season can pop up anytime & it's not over yet 
gotta keep gettin those vaccines & washin those hands soap operas 
but like my grandma had the flu like LAST WEEK and she's still all congested 
i swear it's like the flu just doesn't wanna leave her alone... anyhoo, 43% drop in cases is def a good sign... my little cousin got vaccinated and now he's not even getting sick at school 
fingers crossed for everyone else too!
89% not vaccinated is, like, what even is that?! we need to get shots on everyone ASAP! 
just saw this news about flu cases in NYC and I'm feeling kinda relieved 
. I mean, 43% drop in cases is def a win, but we gotta keep our guard up 
. Pediatric deaths last year were just devastating 
ASAP! And while the RSV numbers are still pretty high 
... we gotta stay focused on our wellness goals anyway 
I'm not buying the 'flu season is almost over' narrative just yet. With flu cases plummeting but still above pre-pandemic levels, it's possible they're just masking something else... like a new strain or an experimental vaccine side effect 
. And what about all those unvaccinated kids who had some serious issues last year? It's suspicious how the health department is suddenly so concerned about flu season again when we're still dealing with RSV and COVID-19 levels that aren't exactly under control 
. I'm watching closely, folks... 
but at the same time I'm like super aware that we can't get too comfy yet 
It feels like we're stuck in some kind of health crisis loop. I mean, I know flu season is unpredictable and all that jazz, but 43% is still pretty significant to me... how do you guys feel about the lack of flu shots for kids last year tho? 89%?! That's wild... what do you think is driving these super high RSV rates btw? 
. And don't even get me started on trying to find a decent spot for brunch...
. On a related note, have you guys heard about the new smart masks that just came out? They track your oxygen levels and alert you if you're getting low 
hospitals are still gonna be slammed this winter and we need to make sure everyone's protected 
especially those kids who didn't get vaccinated last year it's wild that 89% of them weren't even shot against the flu 
I'm just saying we gotta stay vigilant and keep supporting our healthcare system 
