Flu Cases On The Rise In New York State

There are all sorts of signs and ways to know that winter is coming in the Empire State. From New York City to Buffalo and everywhere in between, you don't need to wait for the snow to start falling to know what Ned Stark was famous for saying.

One key sign is when the Erie Canal is drained for the season. Which makes sense, having a 338-mile-long channel of water that is more than likely to freeze over may not be a good thing. In Buffalo, the infamous ice boom is installed at the mouth of the Niagara River, and in the Big Apple, thousands of people gather to view the lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.

If for some reason you miss all of those things, one sure way to know winter is here comes when we start to see an increase in flu infections across the state.

Flu Cases On The Rise In New York State

According to data from the New York State Department of Health, Influenza infections have been on the steady rise.

Since the beginning of October, state health officials have seen a steady increase in both reported infections and hospitalizations from seasonal flu.

More than 45,000 people die from the flu every year in America, with nearly 2,000 of those deaths coming from the Empire State.

While the average healthy person will generally be ok if they catch the flu, there are several groups of people who are at higher risk of complications if they get infected. The elderly, extremely young, people with weak immune systems, and those with some serious health conditions like lung disease or being obese are especially at risk.

There are several tips that health officials have to help you prevent getting the flu or recover if you catch it.

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