Nearly 8,000 New Flu Cases In NY In A Week

There were 7,779 laboratory-confirmed influenza reports in New York for the week ending on Jan. 20, a 28 percent increase over the previous week, according to the New York State Department of Health. The number of people hospitalized with the flu rose by 5 percent to 1,759.

Those are the highest weekly numbers in both categories since reporting began in 2004, leading Gov. Andrew Cuomo to sign an executive order allowing pharmacists to administer flu vaccines to children ages 2 to 18.

"With flu cases reaching epidemic proportions in New York, we must do everything in our power to fight this virus and keep New Yorkers safe," Cuomo said. "Once again, I urge all New Yorkers to help us combat this quick-spreading strain of flu and make sure they and their loved ones are vaccinated."

This year's flu outbreak nationwide is the worst in nearly a decade, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Thirty-seven children, including one in New York, have died from the flu this season.

“Hopefully we’re in the peak currently, since the data is a week behind, or that it peaks soon,” CDC spokeswoman Kristen Nordlund told CNN. “Regardless, there is a lot of flu activity happening across the country and likely many more weeks to come.”

Read the full weekly state flu report here.