The Flu Is Spreading In These Western New York Areas

The frigid air is moving back in to New York State this weekend and with the cold, comes the flu season! Here in New York State, there are plenty of cases already reported!

The snow has been falling in portions of New York State and winter will officially arrive this weekend. However, it seems that the flu season may also have a head start as many doctors and pediatricians are reporting more people coming in with flu like symptoms recently.

Are you ready? Do you have the things you need to fight the flu? Did you get a flu shot?

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According to reports, and the New York State flu tracker, there have been over 23-thousand positive flu cases in the Empire State since the start of this season.

Here in Western New York, the areas with the largest amount of reported cases this week include: Monroe with 90 cases, Orleans with 26, Erie with 25 and it trickles down to single digits in other counties.

The areas with the biggest rise in cases of the flu are: New York City with 2,438 cases, "Metro" area 1,585 cases, and the Western region with 215 cases. The total equate to a 53% INCREASE in reported cases since last week.

We are trying to make sure that the kids wash their hands and take vitamins and get plenty of water this winter. However, we have already had a couple of them stay home from school with a bad cough, sniffles and even stomach issues.

What exactly qualifies as the flu? New York State says: "Influenza (also referred to as the “flu”) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses".

You still have time to get that flu shot. For the kids, some locations offer a nasal flu spray. It was much easier for the kids to receive that than the traditional flu shot.