Name: Flu cases surging nationwide
Uploaded: 2025-12-22T05:09:39.741Z
Duration: 1 min 42 s
Description: Flu cases are on the rise across the country with CDC data showing more than 4 million illnesses this season resulting in roughly 2,000 deaths, including two children. Dr. Benjamin Abella, chair of emergency medicine at the Mount Sinai Health System in New York City, joined CBS News to discuss.

Flu cases are on the rise across the country with CDC data showing more than 4 million illnesses this season resulting in roughly 2,000 deaths, including two children. Dr. Benjamin Abella, chair of emergency medicine at the Mount Sinai Health System in New York City, joined CBS News to discuss.

New York

CDC data shows a significant increase in flu cases across the United States, with over four million illnesses and about 2,000 deaths reported so far this season, including two children. States such as Rhode Island, Louisiana, and New York are experiencing particularly high levels of flu activity.

Dr. Benjamin Abella from Mount Sinai Health System notes that the recent surge is primarily due to the H3 flu strain, and that current case numbers exceed those from the same period last year. He emphasizes that it is not too late to receive a flu shot, which remains effective and safe for individuals as young as six months, and recommends handwashing and mask-wearing to help prevent further spread.

Flu cases surging nationwide

While flu cases are surging across this country, CDC data shows more than four million illnesses this season, resulting in roughly 2,000 deaths, including two children. Rhode Island, Louisiana, and New York are some of the states seeing very high levels of flu activity. Joining me now is Dr. Benjamin Abella, chair of emergency medicine at the Mount Sinai Health System in New York City. Dr. Abella, thank you so much for joining us. So just talk to us about this concern and why we're seeing this surge, and if this has anything to do with this strand being more powerful than in years past. Well, I can certainly say that just over the last week or two, we've seen a major surge in flu cases. It mostly seems to be one strain of flu, known as the H3 strain. This is a strain that's known to us. Certainly the flu vaccine helps. This surge, though, has been much larger than we've seen in past years. The current case count is larger than the same time last year, and it's still climbing. I always think of this time of year as washing your hands. You got to do that. But what are some of the other things people need to think about in terms of protecting themselves? And is it too late to get the flu shot? Yes. So it's certainly important to wash hands. It's certainly important to wear masks if you are sick or if you're immune compromised, and probably in most cases in public. And it's not too late for the flu shot. Flu shots are effective and safe for people as young as six months of age. We definitely recommend the flu shot. It is not too late, and it can greatly reduce the risk of serious disease and even hospitalization if you get the flu. All right, Dr. Benjamin Abella, thank you so much.

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