NYC Flu Levels Remain High

The New York City Health Department  on Thursday released new data on respiratory virus season as the city continues to see a high number of lab-reported flu cases amid recent federal changes to the childhood vaccination schedule.

New data show that flu continues to circulate at high levels in New York City, with more than 8,000 lab-reported cases for the week ending Jan. 10, despite three weeks of decline.

To date this season, there have been over 136,000 positive flu cases reported in New York City. Over half of that number, or 52%, have been children under 18. For the week ending Jan. 10, there were more than 8,000 laboratory-reported flu cases, marking a notable decline from the previous week.  Approximately 2.5% of emergency room visits were flu-related, down from 5% in the prior week. The proportion of hospitalizations related to the flu decreased to 2% from 3.5%, compared with the previous week. 

“Flu season is still far from over, and the recent decline in flu cases is not enough to say if we are past this season’s peak. Flu seasons are unpredictable, and the virus continues to circulate at high levels,” New York City Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse said in a statement. “This is not the time for New Yorkers to relax their efforts to protect themselves, their families, and their communities from these deadly respiratory viruses. The best tool we have is vaccination.”

Among other respiratory viruses, while laboratory-reported RSV cases overall remained relatively stable, the city is seeing decreases in RSV cases among New Yorkers younger than 18 years old and small increases among adults. The proportion of ED visits and admissions with RSV decreased by 20% to 30% compared with the previous week.

COVID-19 cases are low but increased 13% compared with the previous week. The Health Department’s  Respiratory Illness Data Page  will be updated next on Jan. 22, with data through the week ending Jan. 17.