Governor, Doctors Attacking Uptick In Flu Cases

Huntington Hospital is located 270 Park Ave, Huntington. Photo Courtesy of Northwell Health

By Connor Beach
cbeach@longislandergroup.com

Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed last week an executive order intended to help combat a flu epidemic that’s quickly turning this winter into one of the worst flu seasons on record.

The order allows pharmacists to administer flu vaccines to children as young as 2 years old; pharmacists were previously restricted by state law from administering immunizing agents to minors under the age of 18.

Cuomo’s order came after a week that saw 7,779 confirmed cases of influenza across the state, and 1,759 New Yorkers receive hospital treatment for flu symptoms.

Huntington Hospital Medical Director Dr. Michael Grosso has taken notice; he called this flu season “fairly heavy.”

“Every winter season there is an upswing in the number of influenza cases,” Grosso said. “We have many patients being isolated with influenza.”

Grosso said influenza-related complications, including pneumonia and exacerbation of emphysema or heart failure, are also on the rise in patients at the hospital.

The cyclical increase in influenza cases in the wintertime is something that doctors can predict and prepare for, Grosso said. What they can’t predict is the type of flu that will develop each season.

“What’s less predictable is the exact severity of the influenza season and, in particular, the exact strains that are going to circulate,” Grosso said. “That, in turn, influences how many people are going to become ill.”

The flu doesn’t target each person in the same way, Grosso said. Seniors, children under 2 years old and people with preexisting respiratory conditions are particularly susceptible to the flu.

Grosso said early signs and symptoms can include fever, chills and body ache and headache. They can mimic a common cold, but the respiratory symptoms, often set the flu apart.

“Cough is an important part of influenza, and even after other symptoms subside, the cough can go on for weeks after the illness has otherwise subsided,” Grosso said.

Grosso stressed the importance of getting a flu shot. The earlier the better, he said, but the opportunity to get a flu shot lasts throughout the influenza season. The effectiveness of the flu shot varies, as do the strains of influenza that the vaccine protects against.

“From what I’ve read, a large fraction of cases are being caused by strains that are not matched by the vaccine; however, that doesn’t mean that it isn’t still useful because at least some of the circulating influenza strains will be covered, and there is some cross immunity between strains,” Grosso said.

Grosso had one major tip on how to best protect against the flu this season: “Far and away, the single most important protection is hand washing.”