New York’s current flu epidemic is the deadliest in years and strained New York hospitals – that have already treated more than 5,000 patients while officials say the virus has yet to peak — need immediate “back up” from the feds, Sen. Chuck Schumer said Sunday.
Schumer said nearly 20,000 New Yorkers have gotten the flu and “rates increased 54 percent this past week alone” — constituting an emergency the Center for Disease Control should help with.
“A New York specific flu surveillance team would help take the state’s temperature on the epidemic and help break its fever,” said Schumer.
“With record-setting highs this season, it’s absolutely critical that New York have the resources it needs to track the flu’s path, gather intelligence and combat this powerful virus.”
It’s still unclear how many deaths can be attributed to this year’s powerful H3N2 strain, especially when counting the elderly, but experts say at least 37 children can be counted among the victims.
The last time so many people were killed by the flu was during 2009’s swine flu pandemic, which, experts later said resulted in a global death toll of 579,000 people.
Schumer said he wants the CDC team to deliver manpower to emergency rooms and track if the virus is mutating.
A fresh strain, which has yet to be identified, showed up last week that was hitting baby boomers especially hard, authorities said.
To make matters worse, Schumer said New York hospitals are in the middle of a shortage of IV saline solution and bags, items used to
treat dehydration.
About half of all saline solution and bags are manufactured at Baxter International, which is located in Puerto Rico and had its production disrupted by Hurricane Maria.
The CDC did not immediately return calls seeking comment.