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New York State launches dashboard tracking flu, COVID-19 and RSV activity
WSTM • • health
Key Points:
- The New York State Department of Health has launched a Seasonal Respiratory Virus Surveillance Dashboard to track influenza, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus activity across the state.
- State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald has declared influenza prevalent in New York as flu season is starting earlier than usual.
- Vaccination rates are lower than previous years, with fewer than half of adults receiving a flu shot last year, prompting health officials to urge eligible residents to get vaccinated against flu and COVID-19.
- The dashboard offers data on laboratory-confirmed cases, hospitalizations, and geographic trends to assist healthcare providers and the public in monitoring respiratory virus activity.
- Health officials recommend preventive measures such as staying home when sick, avoiding close contact with sick individuals, frequent handwashing, and vaccination to reduce the risk of serious illness.
