The flu season is intensifying across New York State. The latest numbers from the state Health Department shows another sharp increase in flu cases and flu-related hospitalizations. Last week nearly two thousand New Yorkers were hospitalized with the flu, up 34 percent from the previous week. Governor Cuomo has directed the state department of health to begin enhanced monitoring of hospitals to make sure they have the capacity and resources needed to respond to the influx of flu cases. The only flu-associated pediatric death in the state was reported here in Monroe County.