The flu is everywhere in central New York, and doctor’s offices who say they were swamped with sick patients last week say it's even worse now.
Let's start our check of what's going around in Camillus, where the first thing you hear when you call Dr. Rovall's office is a recording that says they are out of flu vaccine. What they do have is lots of patients with flu, which lasts four to six days. Other children have pneumonia and little ones have croup.
In Cicero, Dr. Terasaka says he's seeing the flu, flu and more flu. There's also strep throat and other children have sinus infections.
In Liverpool, Dr. Dracker says plenty of kids have tested positive for Type A flu, which is H1N1; other children have flu symptoms, but the test has been negative.
In Syracuse, Dr. Freshman says just about all the kids he's seen this week have swine flu; he was hoping to get a shipment of vaccine Tuesday, but it didn't come.
In Pulaski, Dr. Carguello is seeing a ton of flu; strep throat is also going around.
In Liverpool, the flu is all they're seeing at the North Medical Urgent Care.
In Auburn, they're seeing the flu in children; other kids have strep throat and colds.
A couple of points to make about the flu: Most of the doctors say it's been pretty mild -- in many cases, the patients don't even need to see a doctor.
Local emergency rooms are packed with people who are waiting for hours, only to be told there's nothing they can do.
Unless you're really sick and are having trouble breathing, don't go to the emergency room.
