Doctors nationwide are still concerned about the flu, but there may be a small break for Western New York.
BUFFALO, N.Y. — The flu remains a major concern for doctors nationwide, but new state data released Friday suggests cases in Western New York may be trending downward.
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That news comes even as hospitalizations remain higher than they were this time last year.
Dr. Thomas Russo, chief of infectious disease at the University at Buffalo, told 2 On Your Side that flu season started early in New York.
“Flu season started in New York State two weeks earlier this year than last year,” he said. “We’re ahead of most of the country. We’re hoping that maybe we’re starting to turn the corner on this, but flu is quite unpredictable, and in some years, we’ll actually have two peaks.”
The flu continues to be a top concern among doctors across the United States as hospitals around the country continue to see surges in patients.
Dr. Russo encouraged people who felt under the weather to either grab home tests that could diagnose both influenza and or COVID. You could also go to a health care facility that also could perform those tests.
“We’re in the midst of another bad flu season,” Dr. Russo said. “We had the worst flu season in almost two decades last year, and unfortunately, we’re in the midst of another one. There is some hope in that cases look like they’re trending downward, but unfortunately hospitalizations are still at a greater level than they were last year, so we’re far from out of this situation where there’s just a ton of flu out there right now.”
According to officials at Kenmore Mercy Hospital, they are now having capacity issues with the influx of patients.
The Erie County Health Department says the use of 911 should be reserved for life-threatening symptoms such as chest pain, trouble breathing, stroke signs, or severe injuries.