‘Spreading like wildfire’: Urgent cares ‘out of control’ as flu numbers peak in New York

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — This flu season is no longer just severe. It’s historic.

New York is now facing the worst flu surge on record, and health officials warn the timing could make it even more dangerous.

With the holidays underway, urgent cares and hospitals are filling fast.

“We saw 20,000 more cases the week ending December 20 than the week before,” New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald told News 8. “We saw over 3,600 people in the hospital. That was more during the week ending December 20 than the peak of last year.”

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More than 71,000 positive flu cases were reported in New York in just seven days — the most since influenza became a reportable disease in 2004.

Hospitalizations are climbing just as fast, jumping 63 percent in one week.

“About 85 to 90 percent of the patients we’re seeing every day are testing positive for flu. It’s spreading like wildfire right now,” Patty Venniro, a family nurse practitioner at Family Health NP Immediate Care in Ontario said.

With 2,300 flu cases reported in Monroe County in just one week, Venniro said her team sees the strain on urgent cares and emergency rooms.

“We see everybody we can,” Venniro said. “Yes, sometimes there’s a line out the door and people have to wait, but everybody seems pretty patient, and we get them in and see them, and get them back home to hopefully start feeling better.”

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Doctors say vaccination, staying home when sick, washing hands, and wearing masks in crowded places can help slow the spread. And stressing, there is still time if you have not gotten your flu shot yet.

“Flu can be treated with an antiviral medication and help shorten the duration of illness and maybe keep someone out of the hospital,” Dr. McDonald said.

Healthcare providers add if flu symptoms including high fever, body aches, cough, or extreme fatigue last longer than a week, or suddenly worsen, it’s important to get checked out.

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