Flu season hits New York earlier than ever, with influenza A dominating cases

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB) — Flu season is already underway across New York, and health care workers say this year’s early start is raising concerns as the holiday season approaches. New York has declared influenza prevalent earlier than ever before. At Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center, staff began seeing flu cases in the first week of September, even before the hospital had a chance to distribute this year’s vaccines. “We got our batch of vaccines at the end of August, beginning of September,” said Branden Simone, director of infection prevention at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center. “And by the first week of September, we already had our flu cases in our hospital.” Simone said there are several theories about why flu season started so early, including changing weather patterns and the spread of other illnesses before vaccines could be distributed. Currently, influenza A is the prevalent strain across New York State, Niagara County, and Erie County, Simone said.

This excerpt comes from the named source. Read the original for the full reporting.