CANTON -- With a total of 808 laboratory confirmed flu cases over the total season, St. Lawrence County experienced a drop in reported flu cases during the week ending March 3. The number dropped to 93, compared to 109 reported cases the previous week.

The numbers from the New York State Department of Health mirror a statewide downward trend in reported flu cases over the last two weeks.

The Health Department reports that confirmed flu cases for the week ending March 3 number 6,414, compared to 13,703 the previous week and 18,253 the week before that. Total flu cases statewide reported for the season are 107,723 as of March 3.

The Health Department reports that 19,373 people have been hospitalized with influenza in New York State this season.

There have been 5 pediatric influenza-associated deaths this flu season, and 17,870 children under the age of five have been diagnosed with lab confirmed influenza, with 1,290 hospitalized.

During last year's flu season, there were 12,912 flu-related hospitalizations and 8 pediatric deaths in New York, said a press release from the governor’s office. Over the previous four years, there were a total of 25 pediatric flu deaths in New York State and an average of 10,571 flu-related hospitalizations a year, the state said.

The downturn in reported cases is a 53 percent decline from the previous week, said the Health Department.

Jefferson County did not see much of a decline last week, according to Health Department numbers, with reported cases at 134 compared to 135 the week prior.

Franklin County actually experienced an increase to 30 from 20 for that week, said the Health Department.

Influenza has been categorized as geographically widespread for the last 13 weeks in New York State, said the press release.

The governor has announced several actions to deal with the spread of the flu.

These include suspending the section of state education law limiting the authority of pharmacists to administer immunizing agents to anyone under age 18 to allow vaccines to be administered to anyone age 2 and up.

The state also recently announced a 30-day budget amendment to increase convenience and vaccine accessibility by allowing pharmacists to administer flu vaccines to children ages 2 to 18.

The state hopes this legislation will encourage pharmacies to enroll in the state’s Vaccines for Children Program. This program provides vaccines to children and individuals regardless of their ability to pay, said the press release from the governor's office.

The governor also called on individual physicians to enroll in the Vaccines for Children program, if not already enrolled.

For more information about the season's influenza totals statewide, log on to https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/influenza/seasonal.