New York Struggles with Severe Flu Outbreak

Hospital emergency departments all over New York City are swamped with patients complaining of influenza-like illnesses and flu symptoms, according to New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley. Farley told a press conference Thursday that influenza was at epidemic levels in all five boroughs of the city, CBS 2 reports. "It's a bad year," said the commissioner. The flu season began Oct. 1 and runs until May. New York state and City report health data separately. The current influenza reports for both are for Week 1 of 2013, ending Jan. 5.