More than 5,400 lab-confirmed flu cases in Monroe Co. this season, 17 deaths

Rochester, N.Y. – The number of lab-confirmed flu cases in Monroe County this season has surpassed 5,400, with 17 deaths tied to the illness.

In the county health department’s most recent flu surveillance report, dated through April 6, more than 880 have been hospitalized because of the illness this season.

The majority of those who died from this season are over the age of 65.

During a recent interview, Dr. Emil Lesho of Rochester Regional Health said doctors had been seeing a different strain of the Type A flu with the most-recent uptick in cases. This strain, the H3N2, is known for sometimes causing a more severe illness.

It is still not too late to get a flu shot.

"Even if you get the vaccine right now, say we have four or five more weeks of circulating flu, it's still worth it because you can potentially protect yourself for three or four of those weeks," Lesho said at the beginning of the month. "And, who knows, if the season persists a little longer into May, you're protected that much longer."

This time last year, nearly 6,900 lab-confirmed cases had been recorded in the county, with 16 deaths.