New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared New York State a public health emergency Saturday as the flu epidemic continued to wreak havoc on the nation. The flu officially reached epidemic proportions in the United States Friday, with the Centers for Disease Control reporting 47 states with "widespread flu epidemic." The flu's corresponding vaccine is proving 62 percent effective. New York City and Boston are being hit particularly hard, with Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino declaring his city a public health emergency Thursday.
