Long Island flu season means questions and answers about how to dodge illness
Tamiflu is an antiviral medicine that can help interfere with the influenza virus’s ability to reproduce in a person’s body, unlike antibiotics, which can kill a bacteria causing an illness. Credit: Getty Images/Justin Sullivan
Influenza is dominating the respiratory virus season on Long Island and across the country. But while experts say COVID-19 and RSV cases remain low, another winter illness has taken hold. Norovirus, which causes vomiting and diarrhea, is at a high level in the United States and growing, according to wastewater surveillance.
Last week, New York State health officials reported 71,123 cases of lab-confirmed flu, the highest number in one week since at least 2004, when they started keeping track.
Experts also say they are seeing more gastrointestinal symptoms in people who have the circulating flu strain, which could lead to confusion between that illness and norovirus. Newsday spoke with local doctors about the difference between the two illnesses and when to seek treatment and testing.
What are you seeing in terms of flu, COVID-19 and RSV?
"Winter season is when upper respiratory viruses and gastrointestinal viruses tend to peak," said Dr. Neal Shipley, medical director of Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care. "We are seeing an increase in both of those things ... less COVID-19, it’s almost as if flu is just pushing COVID off the playing field right now."
Dr. Sharon Nachman, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, agreed, adding that while flu has shoved RSV out of the way, COVID-19 is always there "like background noise."
Dr. Alan Bulbin, infectious disease director at Catholic Health’s St. Francis Hospital in Flower Hill, said it’s been "quite a busy last couple of weeks."
"When flu levels are severe, we see more hospitalized patients, those with underlying comorbidity or other medical problems, which immediately become exacerbated from the flu," Bulbin said.
What is norovirus?
Norovirus is not a respiratory virus. Sometimes known as the "stomach flu," it is not related to the flu virus but a separate virus that causes acute gastroenteritis, inflammation of the stomach or intestines, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is highly contagious, lives on surfaces for long periods of time and is resistant to many disinfectants, Shipley said.
The virus is spread through touching objects or surfaces that have been contaminated with stool or vomit from a person who has norovirus.
Hydration is key, he said. "When people are really sick, we have to send them to the hospital because they may need IV fluids."
What can I do to prevent norovirus?
"If I had to give somebody the one rule, it would be before you stick anything in your mouth, wash your hands," Shipley said.
To decontaminate utensils and dishes, wash them on high in the dishwasher, he said. Look for a disinfectant that specifically can kill norovirus to clean surfaces in your home. And never eat food prepared by someone who is sick.
What is the difference between norovirus symptoms and flu symptoms?
"They are wildly different," Nachman said. "You may have a little bit of an upset stomach from the flu, but the GI symptoms from norovirus are enormous."
Bulbin said people with flu may have sore throat, fever, congestion, cough, body aches and some stomach upset.
"With norovirus, you usually can't get out of the bathroom," he said. "You’re either having diarrhea or vomiting but not high fever, congestion and cough."
How does Tamiflu help a person with flu?
Tamiflu is an antiviral medicine that can help interfere with the influenza virus’s ability to reproduce in a person’s body, unlike antibiotics, which can kill a bacteria causing an illness.
"It gives your immune system a chance to catch up," Shipley said of Tamiflu and other antiviral medications. "You will feel better faster but it’s not going to go away completely ... these medicines are most effective when you take them early in an illness, ideally within the first 24 to 48 hours."
Tamiflu can also be used as a prophylaxis, Nachman said, to protect those at high risk who live with a flu patient.
"If you have a 6-week-old at home and mom has the flu, we are going to give that baby Tamiflu," she said.
At the same time, healthy people may not need the Tamiflu, which comes with its own gastrointestinal side effects, she said.
"It’s not a blanket statement and it’s not a benign medication," Nachman said.
Is it too late to get a flu shot?
No.
"It’s just never too late," Bulbin said. "The match is not the best with the circulating strain but there is clearly a benefit. It may be the difference between staying out of the hospital and being in the hospital."
Lisa joined Newsday as a staff writer in 2019. She previously worked at amNewYork, the New York Daily News and the Asbury Park Press covering politics, government and general assignment.
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