A CDC report at the end of December included New York City and New York state among 29 states exhibiting high levels of the flu this 2012-2013 flu season.
The tri-state area is a mixed bag: New Jersey is also among those 29,
but Connecticut is one of a handful with only minimal flu activity.
The figures in the report are based on the percent of hospital visits and lab diagnoses.
There are lab-confirmed reports from 56 of NY’s 62 counties, and a
9 percent increase in those reports from the week prior. Hamilton County is the only one that did not report flu activity at the last check, though they have reported cases previously this season.
That week also saw a 46 percent increase in patients admitted to hospitals with the flu and flu diagnoses in hospitals.
There has been a steady increase in the number of reports since early November, with numbers jumping in December and continuing to climb.
The last two years had far fewer
reports: last year had almost none until late March. There are already
nearly three times as many flu cases this season than there were for the
entire 2011-2012 season.
