Measles: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment & Prevention
Flu Cases Up Dramatically On LI, New York State
Doctors are urging people to get a flu shot in light of a dramatic increase in cases of the influenza virus on Long Island. Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.
Influenza cases across Long Island and New York have dramatically increased over the past two weeks and doctors expect them to continue to rise as people head back to work and school after the holidays.
There were 16,043 lab-confirmed cases of flu in the state for the week ending Dec. 21, up from 8,640 for the week ending Dec. 14, according to state figures. About 8,500 of those cases were from Long Island, but experts said the numbers are likely higher since many people with flu don't seek medical care.
"The flu is hitting hard right now," said Dr. Lynda Gerberg, lead pediatrician at Northwell Health-GoHealth, which has urgent care centers across Long Island, New York City and Westchester County. "It's been a little delayed. It usually comes in a little earlier in November and December but now it's the end of December and January. It's spreading like wildfire."
Gerberg said many patients who don't feel well enough to come into the urgent care centers are taking advantage of virtual medical visits.
Suffolk County saw a 119% jump in lab-confirmed cases between Dec. 14 and Dec. 21, from 800 to 1,749. The current total is 4,063.
Nassau County saw a 87% jump in new lab-confirmed cases, from 935 on Dec. 14 to 1,748 on Dec. 21 for a total this season of 4,348.
"The most important thing right now is to acknowledge that it's spreading," said Dr. Asif Noor, director of pediatric infectious disease at NYU Langone Hospital-Long Island. "We expect the numbers to rise — especially in the first two weeks of January."
At the same time, outbreaks of norovirus, a common but uncomfortable stomach virus, also increased nationally from 69 on Nov. 28 to 91 on Dec. 5, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Information about outbreaks in specific states, including New York, was not available.
While norovirus and other stomach viruses cause vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramps, flu symptoms generally cause fever, chills, cough, sore throat, fatigue, muscle aches and headaches.
A case of the flu usually starts with a fever, body aches and a headache, Noor said, followed by a worsening sore throat and cough in the next few days.
Most people will be able to tend to their symptoms at home by resting, drinking plenty of fluids and using over-the-counter pain relievers, if needed, for fevers and aches, he said.
Infants, very young children, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems and chronic health conditions are at higher risk of becoming seriously ill from the flu. Any person who is having trouble breathing, becoming dehydrated or has a high fever that won't come down with medicine should seek help, doctors said.
"Flu can predispose children to bacterial infections," Noor said. "If a child is improving but then has a new fever, a lingering cough and difficulty breathing, they need to be checked for bacterial infections."
Both Noor and Gerberg said the best way to stave off serious flu symptoms is to get a flu shot. But statewide, only 22.7% of New Yorkers, outside of the five boroughs of New York City, have received this year's flu vaccination. State Health Department data also shows just 22.1% of Nassau County residents and 18.5 % of Suffolk County residents have received a flu shot so far this season.
The vaccine is recommended by the CDC for everyone 6 months of age and older.
"It will reduce your chance of getting sick but the most important thing with the flu vaccine is it prevents you from getting into the hospital," Noor said. "Most patients admitted into the hospital with influenza have not received their flu vaccine."
Gerberg said other basic prevention tips are effective such as washing your hands, covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze and wiping down surfaces to keep them germ-free.
Lisa joined Newsday as a staff writer in 2019. She previously worked at amNewYork, the New York Daily News and the Asbury Park Press covering politics, government and general assignment.
Are You Contagious? Check When You're Most Likely To Spread COVID, The Flu, Norovirus And Other Common Illnesses
It's that time of year! People are spreading holiday cheer — and germs, leading to sicknesses like COVID, flu, RSV, norovirus stomach bug and more. But how long are you contagious?
Dr. Carla Garcia Carreno, Children's Medical Center Plano director of infection prevention and control, is already seeing upticks in RSV, COVID and flu in her area, she told CBS News.
And a late winter wave of COVID infections is also looking likely. COVID-19 surveillance data indicates that the winter wave is beginning later than in past seasons where the median peaks were in December or January, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Luckily, there are ways to help prevent illness, including social distancing, washing our hands and getting vaccinated.
But if you do end up coming down with something, here's what to know to keep others safe this holiday season.
How long is COVID contagious?People with COVID-19 can be infectious from one to two days before and up to eight to 10 days after symptoms begin, according to the CDC.
"The majority of transmission appears to occur during the early periods of infection, particularly in the 1 to 2 days before symptoms start and within the first few days of symptom onset," its website notes.
COVID symptoms in 2024 may vary depending on vaccination status but can include:
Still, it's important to test and not diagnose on your own, experts say.
"If you come in with some symptoms of cough or sore throat or runny nose, whatever it is, I can't tell you if that's a cold, if it's walking pneumonia, if it's COVID or the flu. You do need to test," Dr. Céline Gounder, CBS News medical contributor and editor-at-large for public health at KFF Health News, said recently on "CBS Mornings."
Asymptomatic individuals can also transmit the virus.
So how do we know when it's safe to be around others? You no longer have to wait to test negative. Instead, the CDC has shared simplified guidelines for when to end isolation after contracting the virus: fever-free for 24 hours and improved symptoms.
"Once the person is fever-free for 24 hours without the use of any fever-reducing medicines like ibuprofen, they should be a little bit out of the woods ... But also your respiratory symptoms need to be improving," Garcia Carreno said.
After this period, you can start going out but it's a good idea to still take precautions to keep others safe.
"For example, try to social distance from others, and, if possible, wear a mask. That's usually recommended for an additional five-day period," she said.
In addition to COVID, these guidelines also apply to other respiratory infections, including flu and RSV, Garcia Carreno said.
How long is the flu contagious?In most people infected, influenza viruses can be detected starting one day before symptoms begin and up to five to seven days after becoming sick, according to the CDC.
"People with flu are most contagious during the first three days of their illness. Some people, including young children and people with weakened immune systems may be contagious for longer periods of time," the agency's website states.
The CDC's update guidelines apply here, meaning you can return to normal after being fever-free for 24 hours without medication and have improved symptoms.
Garcia Carreno said the use of medications like Tamiflu also don't change these timelines.
"The use of antivirals shouldn't be a factor for prolonging the spread of the of the illness," she said.
While antiviral medications can help with symptoms, people should still monitor fever and symptoms based on the CDC's updated guidelines.
How long is the norovirus stomach bug contagious?People sick with stomach flu, also known as viral gastroenteritis or the norovirus stomach bug, will generally get better within 1 to 3 days — but they can still spread the virus to others for days after, and the virus can survive on surfaces and continue to infect people for weeks.
"You can still spread norovirus for 2 weeks or more after you feel better," the CDC website states.
Norovirus is a gastrointestinal virus, not a respiratory virus like other illnesses we see this time of year, Garcia Carreno explained.
"It's also very contagious, but it's more contagious via vomiting and diarrhea, so it's through fecal (and) oral (transmission)," she said. "So hand-washing is really important, and it's important to say that usually we need bleach products for norovirus to be inactivated."
Cases of norovirus are surging in parts of the United States this winter, CDC data show.
If somebody is sick with norovirus at home, Garcia Carreno advises sterilizing or decontaminating the restroom that person used.
In addition to hand-washing to ward off illness, it's also a good idea to avoid sharing cups and utensils with others to prevent both gastrointestinal and respiratory viruses, she said.
How long is RSV contagious?People with RSV are usually contagious for three to eight days, according to the CDC. They may also become contagious a day or two before they start showing symptoms.
"Some infants and people with weakened immune systems can continue to spread the virus for 4 weeks or longer, even after they stop showing symptoms," the agency notes.
The same CDC guidelines for COVID and flu also apply to RSV — people can end isolation after being fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medicines and have improved symptoms.
How long is pneumonia contagious?In general, the rule that applies to other respiratory viruses is also used for bacterial pneumonia, Garcia Carreno said, meaning once someone is fever-free for 24 hours and seeing symptom improvements they should not be as contagious.
"Also, for the majority, of these pneumonias, you usually are not contagious after 24 hours of antibiotics. So once you have received 24 hours of effective or appropriate antibiotics ... The contagiousness will decrease," she said.
How long is the common cold contagious?You're most contagious when symptoms are at their worst, according to the Cleveland Clinic, which is usually the first three days.
But you can still spread the sickness beyond that timeframe.
"You can be contagious for up to two weeks, even spreading a cold a day or two before you have symptoms," the clinic's website reads.
The classic common cold virus is rhinovirus, and the same rules will apply for rhinovirus (as other respiratory viruses)," Garcia Carreno said, but warned rhinovirus is "one of the most contagious viruses" even if its symptoms are milder.
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