BUFFALO, N.Y. -- We're officially in flu season in New York State.
With state-wide cases increasing by 107 percent in just the past week, it looks like Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officials are on the mark suggesting flu cases in New York could be at their highest for the season by Christmas.
It's worse in the east part of the state. In Long Island, for example, between 70 and 100 students are absent due to illness per day in some schools.
In Western New York, officials believe we haven't hit that point just yet.
"We still have not reached peak flu season yet. We typically hit peak flu season later on in January, so there is more to come," said Erie County Health Commissioner Dr. Gale Burstein.
According to each County Health Department, the flu is prevalent with new cases being reported in Erie, Niagara, Orleans and Chautauqua Counties.
There have been some flu cases but not many yet in Genesee County.
As of December 6, the date of the last report by the New York State Department of Health, there had been no cases yet this season in Cattaraugus, Allegany and Wyoming cases.
That has likely already changed, though, from a new more current report by the State due early next week.
And as far as confirmed flu cases go, it's the upward or downward trends healthcare workers say they look at that tell a much better picture of the situation than an actual number.
"It's just this last week that we've had a significant spike, where we've had many more cases reported to us than what we had in weeks past," Burstein said.
The big picture is this: The flu is now considered wide-spread throughout New York State, according to the CDC, but here in Western New York, the worst of flu season is only just getting started.
A lot of people have been concerned about a strand of the flu that mutated, possibly rendering the vaccine ineffective. It's true that H3N2 is a prevalent strain that the vaccine doesn't prevent.
However, health officials are still adamant that this year's shots or nasal spray still do reduce your risk of getting the flu by preventing other strains.
