New York reports record-breaking number of flu hospitalizations in a single week
ABC News••general
Key Points:
- New York reported a record 4,546 flu hospitalizations in the week ending Dec. 27, marking a 24% increase from the previous week and following a record 72,133 flu cases the week before.
- The state's health commissioner, Dr. James McDonald, noted the current flu season is more severe than prior years, with nearly 1,000 additional hospital admissions in the latest week.
- Nationwide, the CDC estimates at least 7.5 million flu illnesses, 81,000 hospitalizations, and 3,100 deaths so far this season, with New York among 20 states experiencing very high respiratory illness activity.
- Many cases are linked to a new flu strain, subclade K
