ALBANY COUNTY — New Yorkers are being encouraged to get flu shots as cases increase.

At a press conference on Wednesday, Dec. 6, Governor Kathy Hochul said, “The number of flu cases in the state of New York is now defined as prevalent in the state; that’s a new category.”

Flu cases have increased 25 percent over one week, she said, and hospitalizations are up 30 percent.

“Very, very sad to report that there have been two pediatric deaths related to flu,” said Hochul, urging “everyone” to “get their flu shots.”

The latest data when the governor spoke, for the week ending Nov. 25, posted on the website for the state’s health department, which collects, compiles, and analyzes information on influenza year-round, said, “This is the first week of widespread activity reported this season.”

Laboratories tested 30,150 specimens for influenza, of which 4,061, or 13 percent, were positive, a 27-percent increase in positive cases compared with the previous week, the health department says. Also, 291 patients were hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed influenza, a 30-percent increase in hospitalized cases compared with the previous week.

This week, with data from the week ending on Dec. 2, the health department says that this is the second consecutive week with flu activity categorized as geographically widespread.

Laboratories tested 41,414 specimens for influenza, of which 17 percent were positive, a 69-percent increase in positive cases compared with the previous week. The number of patients hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed influenza was 483, a 47-percent increase in hospitalized cases compared with the previous week.

For the week ending Dec. 2, there were three flu outbreaks reported in a hospital and six outbreaks were reported in nursing homes. For the season to date, the health department said, there have been a total of 41 outbreaks reported from hospitals and nursing homes in New York state.

While the number of flu cases statewide is currently increasing, a graph on the website shows that, so far in this 2023-24 season, the number of cases is far below those reported in 2022-23 and a little above cases reported in 2021-22. The line graphed for 2020-21 looks nearly flat as, in the midst of the pandemic shutdown, fewer than 6,000 cases were reported for the entire season.

A map on the site shows that, for the week ending Dec. 2, under 8 cases per 100,000 of population were reported for Albany County.

Statewide, 10 of New York’s 62 counties reported 40 cases or more of influenza per 100,000 of population during the week, up from three counties the week before.

For the same week, ending Dec. 2, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maps New York state as having a “low” level of influenza activity.

California, New Mexico, and many of the southern states are mapped as having a “high” activity level with Louisiana and North Carolina labeled “very high.”

For the same time period, ending Dec. 2, the CDC shows Albany County as having a “medium” rate of COVID-19 hospitalizations for the second week in a row.

A “low” level means fewer than 10 hospital admissions per 100,000 of population while “medium” is between 10.0 and 19.9, and “high” means there were more than 20 hospital admissions per 100,000 of population.

Albany County has had 11.6 new COVID-19 hospitalizations per 100,000 of population in the past week, 58 admissions, an increase of 11.5 percent from the prior week.

The state’s health department, like its governor, urges New Yorkers to get vaccinated against influenza as well as COVID.

“The flu is not just a really bad cold,” says the department on its website. “The flu is a contagious illness that affects the nose, throat, lungs, and other parts of the body. It can spread quickly from one person to another. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death.”

The flu vaccine can prevent the illness or make it less severe, making it less likely to be hospitalized or die from influenza.

A fact sheet put out by the CDC cites a 2017 study that showed the flu vaccine can be life-saving in children. It is also especially important for pregnant women and for people with chronic health issues.

The CDC recommends going online to https://www.vaccines.gov/ to find a nearby clinic administering flu vaccinations.