BY JOSH DAVISNorth Country This Week

CANTON -- Hospitalizations due to the flu are higher this season than at the same time last year, according to St. Lawrence County Public Health Director Erin Streiff.

The public health director said Flu A is currently the predominant strain and noted that flu cases are increasing in the region.

Multiple school districts in the Potsdam and Ogdensburg areas have seen higher-than-average absenteeism rates in recent weeks due to illness.

Anecdotal reports indicate that local school districts have had hundreds of students out at the same time in recent weeks. Illness has also impacted staff at schools and other major employers in St. Lawrence County.

As of Tuesday, Claxton-Hepburn Hospital was diverting patients because inpatient beds were full.

North Star Health Alliance CEO Richard Duvall confirmed the situation Tuesday afternoon, but said it has since been lifted. He said hospitalizations were due mainly to upper respiratory and flu cases.

Statewide flu hospitalizations are also increasing.

Health officials say vaccination and handwashing are the best defenses against the flu.

“The best way to prevent severe illness from the flu is by getting vaccinated,” Streiff said.

“In addition, handwashing and avoiding crowds or others who are sick are important. If someone is sick with a respiratory infection like the flu, they should try to stay home to avoid infecting others.”

In St. Lawrence County, more than 40 flu cases per 100,000 people were reported in the week ending Dec. 6.

As of Dec. 2, New York’s health commissioner reported that influenza was prevalent throughout the state.

Lab-confirmed influenza cases rose 29% in the week ending Dec. 6, jumping to 24,287 from 18,788 the week prior.

Hospitalizations for the flu spiked 75% in the past week statewide, rising to 1,399 from 798.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, influenza is a potentially serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes death. Everyone 6 months and older in the United States, with rare exceptions, should get a flu vaccine every season.

Flu vaccination has been shown to provide many benefits, including reducing the risk of flu illness, hospitalization and flu-related death.

All flu vaccines in the United States are trivalent (three-component) vaccines.

For people 65 and older, three flu vaccines are preferentially recommended.

The vaccine is not appropriate for everyone, however, as different influenza vaccines are approved for use in different age groups.

In addition, some vaccines are not recommended for certain groups of people.

Factors that can determine a person’s suitability for vaccination, or vaccination with a particular vaccine, include age, current and past health, and any allergies to influenza vaccines or their components. People with concerns are encouraged to discuss vaccination with a physician.