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“Super Flu” Grips Staten Island: Cases Double Last Year’s Peak, Hospitals See Surge

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – A shocking surge in influenza cases has gripped Staten Island, with over 2,400 cases reported in the week ending December 20, 2025, according to the state Health Department. This marks a staggering 40% increase from the previous week and eclipses even the dramatic spread seen after the COVID-19 pandemic. The outbreak, fueled by what experts are calling a “super flu” strain, is hitting New York, Colorado, and Louisiana particularly hard.

The current case count is double the borough’s worst week during last year’s flu season, when the peak of 1,160 cases wasn’t reached until January 18, 2025. Local doctors are reporting patients experiencing chills, fever, headache, sore throat, and body aches, lasting a week to 10 days at minimum.

The dramatic rise in cases is also putting a strain on the borough’s hospitals. Ninety-five people were hospitalized with the flu last week, compared to 42 the week before. Statewide, the Health Department reports a 38% jump in flu cases, with over 71,000 cases reported last week and more than 189,000 this season.

Health officials emphasize that it’s not too late to get vaccinated. Getting an annual flu shot, staying home while sick, and frequent hand washing are vital in preventing the spread. While usually people are more contagious in the first three days of illness, the flu can be spread even a day before symptoms appear. Doctors are urging residents to consider the impact on vulnerable populations like seniors, infants, pregnant women, and those with compromised immune systems.

“This ‘super flu’ is highly contagious, and its impact on our community is significant,” said Dr. Thomas Gut, associate chairman of medicine at Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze. “Vaccination is the best defense, not only for yourself but for those around you.”

For more information on preventing the spread of the flu, visit the city Health Department at health.ny.gov.

Original Author: Ann Marie Barron, Staten Island Advance/SILive.com

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