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State bolsters fight vs. flu epidemic

The Daily Star - 1/26/2018

Jan. 26--Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Thursday signed an executive order to combat the flu epidemic in New York.

Over the past week, 7,779 laboratory confirmed influenza cases were reported to the state and 1,759 New Yorkers have been hospitalized with confirmed influenza, the highest weekly numbers in both categories since reporting began in 2004 and surpassing last week's previous high of 1,606 hospitalizations, according to a media release from the governor's office.

The executive order allows pharmacists to administer flu vaccines to children ages 2 to 18. The goal is to increasing access and convenience for those seeking the flu vaccination as the number of reported cases across the state continues to rise, according to the release. Parents and guardians are encouraged to call pharmacies ahead of their visit, to ensure they are ready to receive patients in this age group.

To raise awareness on the high rates of influenza and to continue to encourage New Yorkers to get vaccinated, Cuomo has also called on the Department of Health to expand the state's influenza public service advertising campaign targeting the areas of the state hardest hit by influenza, and subscribers to the state text line will receive a message encouraging them to get a vaccine and providing resources to find a location to receive the vaccine, the release said.

In addition to the steps taken by the Department of Health last week, the governor ordered the following measures:

--Issuance of Department of Financial Services guidance to health insurers to ensure that prior authorization is not a barrier to the prescribing of antiviral medications within the first 48 hours of illness.

--Direct engagement with all county health commissioners to review the four key strategies of influenza control -- vaccination, rapid antiviral treatment, isolation of sick individuals, and good hand hygiene -- and promote local vaccination awareness efforts.

--Ongoing communication with all hospitals and nursing homes to review capacity management strategies and the actions available to expand capacity to handle patient surge.

--Continued monitoring of hospital capacity through survey and direct outreach to hospital leadership.

For the past seven weeks, influenza has been geographically widespread across New York. As of Jan. 20, more than 25,000 laboratory confirmed cases of influenza have been reported, 7,101 people have been hospitalized with influenza and there has been one pediatric flu-related death in New York, the release said.

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(c)2018 The Daily Star (Oneonta, N.Y.)

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