In the New York City area, the flu season is hitting hard, coming earlier and spreading wider. It appears everyone is sick, especially in our close-knit WPHS community.

Reports show a record surge in cases, with more than 71,000 cases reported from December 14-20. That’s a 38% increase from the previous week, and the most cases ever recorded in a week since influenza tracking was developed in 2004. Even before this peak, flu cases were high: this year, NYC reached 10,000 recorded cases of flu by late November. Last year, it reached that number in late December.

 A likely explanation for the jump is the declining rates of vaccination. Only around 22% of New Yorkers received the flu shot this year. According to Dr. Jennifer Duchon, hospital epidemiologist and director of antimicrobial stewardship at Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital, vaccine hesitancy has increased. “When fewer people are immunized, influenza spreads more easily within communities,” she said.

Similar sentiments are shared by other health officials. The NYS Health Commissioner McDonald urged New Yorkers to protect themselves and others with vaccination.

Given that this season’s flu vaccine was decided before the emergence of the new strain, some health officials believe this vaccine is mismatched. A wide variety of samples from flu patients is essential to creating an effective vaccine. From February to July, the CDC received 60% fewer samples than the same period last year, said Demetre Daskalakis, who previously led the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at CDC until his August resignation. Still, officials recommend the flu vaccine as the best protection, reminding us that it’s not too late to get the shot.

This year’s flu feels different than in the past, an occurrence explained by the dominating H3N2 strain. A persisting cough—while not lethal—can become a real nuisance in day-to-day life. Other side effects of this new strain, including fever, fatigue and a runny nose are just as inconvenient.

But for the elderly and sick, the H3N2 strain can have particularly dangerous effects. This has led to increased hospitalization among those most susceptible: there was a 63% jump in hospitalizations compared to a less virulent strain. Most hospitalized have had underlying health ailments or age vulnerability; it’s unclear whether the new strain is more severe, or if hospitalizations have simply increased in proportion to the cases. Even so, the flu season is expected to peak around January or February, meaning this isn’t the worst of it.

Health officials recommend taking these steps to avoid getting the flu:

• Stay home when sick, and avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands.
• When coughing or sneezing, cover with a tissue and then throw it in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.