Health officials: Recent uptick seen in NYS flu cases

State officials report the number of flu cases has climbed dramatically in the last 10 days, including on Long Island. Health officials call the flu situation ?widespread,? which means half the counties

News 12 Staff

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Feb 12, 2009, 12:48 AM

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Updated 5,919 days ago

State officials report the number of flu cases has climbed dramatically in the last 10 days, including on Long Island.

Health officials call the flu situation ?widespread,? which means half the counties in the state are reporting an increase in cases of influenza.

The flu outbreak started later in the season this year. According to Dr. Gary Leonardi, of the Nassau University Medical Center, it?s because of the accuracy of the influenza A vaccine.

In 2008, state health officials say flu was widespread by mid-December and killed 2,500 people in New York State.

Doctors say the vaccine is about 80 percent effective this year. Because of that, they say those who do get the flu may have a more difficult time getting rid of strains that are more drug resistant.