Among the 3,283 laboratory-confirmed cases of the flu reported by State Department of Health officials this season, the majority of infections have been caused by the dominant A-strain of influenza, which is dubbed A/Singapore H3N2.

The majority of flu cases have occurred in New York City, followed by the greater metropolitan area, which includes Long Island. The data are gleaned from reports sent to the state from physicians and hospitals.

One child has died of the flu in New York, and 923 people of all ages have been hospitalized because of the illness since the season started 11 weeks ago. The peak period runs this month into February. No details have been released about the child who died.

"It's not too late to get vaccinated," Dr. Susan Donelan, medical director of health-care epidemiology and assistant professor of infectious diseases at Stony Brook University's Renaissance School of Medicine, wrote in an email.

"Stay home if you are sick, regardless of whether you ‘think’ you may or may not have the flu," Donelan added. "There are a number of viruses out there circulating and any one of these may make someone else sick enough to be hospitalized, even if you are only mildly ill."

Health officials long have underscored that state figures do not reflect the actual number of flu cases — which are substantially higher — because most people do not seek medical attention for the flu. Instead, those who have the illness usually self-treat the infection without seeking professional medical attention.

Other seasonal respiratory viruses in circulation include respiratory syncytial virus — RSV — coronavirus, rhinovirus, enterovirus, human meta-pneumovirus and parainfluenza virus, which despite its name, does not cause the flu.

According to state law, health-care workers who have not been vaccinated against the flu must wear "surgical" or "procedure" masks in the presence of patients. The law requires personnel to wear masks in areas of hospitals and health-care centers where patients are typically present, State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said in a statement.

“Health-care personnel are routinely exposed to sick patients and are also in close contact with vulnerable patients. The requirement that unvaccinated health-care personnel wear a mask when patients are nearby protects both our critical health-care workforce and at-risk New Yorkers," he said.

The law to which Zucker referred is known as The Regulation for Prevention of Influenza Transmission, which went into effect during the 2013-14 flu season.

The flu remains an ongoing health concern not only because of its contagiousness, but because of its capacity to morph into pneumonia, which can be deadly.

An estimated 80,000 people died nationwide during the 2017-18 flu season, a total that included 200 children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It was the highest flu-death toll in 40 years.

The high number of deaths arrived in the 100th anniversary year of the 1918 flu, the worst flu season in human history. An estimated 675,000 people died in the United States and 50 million worldwide. Within months, the sweeping pandemic killed more people than any other illness in recorded history.

Beyond vaccination, simple measures can help limit influenza's spread.

"Cover your coughs and sneezes," Donelan said, "and perform hand-hygiene with either soap and water or alcohol-based hand rubs after blowing your nose. Avoid touching mucous membranes such as your eyes, nose and mouth."

**Importance of vaccinations**

- Everyone six months of age or older should receive an influenza
vaccination.
- The vaccine is especially important for people at high risk for
complications, such as pneumonia.
- People at elevated risk include children under age 2; pregnant women; adults over age 65, and people with pre-existing conditions, such as asthma, cancer, heart disease and HIV infection.

**SOURCE: State Health Department/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention**

**How to limit spread of influenza**

- Cover coughs and sneezes.

- Perform hand-hygiene with either soap and water or alcohol-based hand
rubs after blowing your nose.

- Avoid touching mucous membranes such as your eyes, nose and mouth.

**Source:** https://www.newsday.com/long-island/flu-season-a-strain-1.25010859