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The latest report from the New York State Department of Health on the influenza situation outside of New York City shows a dramatic increase in visits to hospital emergency rooms for flu like illnesses in Upstate New York. The October 24 report shows nearly a 50% increase in such visits from the October 17 report. The Hudson Valley and Long Island regions show a much smaller increase.

Here is the article

New York regions defined by NYS Dept of Health

Swine flu continues to spread in New York State. Data compiled by the NYS Department of Health suggests that this fall’s wave of pandemic flu will be larger and affect more people than the spring wave did.

The graph above illustrates the numbers for Flu-like Illness in NYS hospital emergency departments as percentage of total emergency department visits, by Region (3 month snapshot). FLI is the primary indicator being used in NYS, and all of the testing being done demonstrates that pandemic Swine Flu is the overwhelming influenza virus making people sick.

In New York City, the situation seems to be different at this point. After large numbers of Swine Flu cases this past spring, the indicators for the illness are well within normal expectations for this time of year.

For the rest of this article, please visit the Rochester Infectious Disease Examiner.

Map of New York State showing counties and their swine flu or novel H1N1 case totals. As of June 1, 2009.

645 cases of novel H1N1 or swine flu in New York State as of this afternoon. 415 cases are in New York City, and adding in the adjacent counties, the NY metro total is 544 cases. Buffalo and Erie County have 41 cases. Onondaga County and Syracuse have 29 cases.

Map of New York State swine flu or novel H1N1 cases by county. May 29 2009. Click on map for larger image.

Here is the list of New York City school closings.

Erie County and Buffalo info

Erie County map of case locations by zip code

Onondaga County and Syracuse info

Map of New York State counties with novel H1N1 or swine flu cases as of May 27. Click image for larger map.

New York City school closings can be found at this link.

Erie County Health Commissioner suggests students with influenza like illness be banned from school. Williamsville schools are the center of a cluster of swine flu cases.

And, a new case in Monroe County. Elementary school student in Churchville-Chili School District.