New York City Faces Record‑High Flu Surge Amid a “Super Flu” Outbreak
By the end of December, New York City’s emergency rooms were treating more flu‑like cases than at any point in the past decade. Preliminary data from the city’s syndromic surveillance system show that the week of December 20 saw the highest level of ER visits for influenza‑related symptoms in 10 years.
“We haven’t hit the peak yet,” said Dr. Caitlin Rivers, an infectious‑disease epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, when speaking to the New York Times. The warning rings true across the boroughs: Manhattan’s reported cases surged by 104% from the week of December 6‑13, while the Bronx spiked 98%, Staten Island 75%, Queens 65%, and Brooklyn 58% in the same period.
In the last week alone, 9,857 ER visits were logged for flu‑like illness—an amount exceeding any single week during the 2017‑18 or 2024‑25 seasons, both identified by the CDC as “high‑severity” years. Lab results confirm the trend: 24,607 positive influenza tests were reported in the second week of December, the highest weekly tally of the current season so far.
School attendance dipped just before the Christmas break, according to Gothamist, and parents have expressed concern over the impact on holiday plans.
Why is the flu this severe?
The current season has earned the label “super flu” because of its rapid spread and intense severity. Three main factors contribute to the outbreak:
- Lower Vaccination Coverage – Fewer residents received the flu shot compared with previous years.
- Reduced Vaccine Effectiveness – The vaccine developed 6‑9 months in advance often mismatches the circulating strain. This season’s vaccine is estimated to be only 32‑39% effective in adults, though it performs better in children (72‑75% efficacy).
- Circulating Strain Mismatch – The dominant strain is subclade K of the H3N2 virus, a mutation not well represented in the current vaccine.
Neil Maniar, director of Northeastern University’s Master of Public Health program, explained, “[The dominant strain is] not very well‑aligned with the vaccine this year, which means there is potentially a larger proportion of the population that is susceptible to the flu.”
Understanding H3N2 and subclade K
Influenza viruses are classified primarily as Influenza A or B. Influenza A includes several subtypes, with H3N2 being the most frequently responsible for seasonal outbreaks. Unlike other strains, H3N2 mutates rapidly, and the subclade K variant has become the predominant strain worldwide this year.
Symptoms of this year’s influenza
The clinical picture remains similar to past seasons. Patients typically report fever, fatigue, body aches, chills, nasal congestion or runny nose, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, and headaches.
What to do if you contract the flu
Despite lower protection, experts still recommend getting vaccinated—it’s not too late to receive a shot. If you develop flu symptoms, focus on rest and hydration.
“Be sure to drink plenty of fluids, get sufficient rest and take Tylenol or Advil to manage fever, headaches, and muscle aches at home,” advised Dr. Mark Mulligan, director of NYU Langone Health’s Vaccine Center.
If you experience shortness of breath, or if symptoms do not improve or worsen after three to four days, seek medical attention and avoid returning to work until you recover.
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