Flu cases spike in Oswego County, surpassing recent seasons
OSWEGO, NY – Current flu season triples recent illness trends.
It’s the heart of winter, and it seems like everyone’s been getting sick lately. Respiratory illnesses are spreading across Oswego county. Flu, COVID-19, and RSV have all been key players this winter illness season.
According to the New York State Department of Health, the highest recorded wave of this year’s flu season doubled last year’s peak, and tripled the year before that.
In Oswego County, the 2023-2024 season peaked at 225 weekly cases, while the 2024-2025 season peaked at 302 cases. This year’s peak? Represented by the angry red spike in the graph below, it came 9 weeks early, and dwarved recent seasons with 735 weekly cases.
Angie Brown, Director of Student Health Services at SUNY Oswego, attributed this year’s spike to two things… skipping out on the vaccine, and unhealthy lifestyle choices.
“I don’t think people are getting vaccinated like they used to. I think there’s a lot of stuff out there right now, and a lot of concern.” Brown said. “I also think that a lot of people spend a lot of time indoors now, right? Our whole world is virtual, and on electronics, and people don’t go in nature anymore. Nature is so important to keeping our immunity and our health up, and you see most people in meetings virtually, on their phones, doing homework on computers… and not outside getting that fresh air.”
Angie added that additional factors like poor diet, lack of sleep, and stress can all weaken your immune system, spike your cortisol levels, and increase your white blood cell levels…all of which can make you more susceptible to viruses.
Angie had two pieces of advice: It’s not too late to get the flu shot, and it’s never too late to take care of yourself.