ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- The number of confirmed flu cases in the state has dropped for the first time since December.

Governor Cuomo announced that about 13,000 cases of the flu were reported last week in the state, that's several hundred fewer than a week ago. 

Health officials say, the number of people hospitalized has dropped for the third week in a row. 

The flu has caused the deaths of 11 adults this season, all of whom were over the age of 50, in just Monroe County. Three of the people who died were over the age of 85.

Dr. Maryrose Laguio-Vila, an infectious disease specialist at Rochester General Hospital, says if you can stay out of the emergency room, you should.

"When it come to deciding where to go, start by calling your primary care physician, because your primary physician knows you very well, and often will be able to see you," said Laguio-Vila. "If you come to the emergency department, we try and have people who really have severe conditions, such as it's very difficult to breathe or very high fevers."

Head to the hospital over urgent care or your doctor's office if you have an underlying medical condition.

"Predominantly what makes people very sick from the flu is if they have other underlying conditions. If they have lung conditions, like asthma, emphyzema, COPD or heart conditions like congestive heart failure – these are the people who are at higher risk of having complications of the flu."

The advice to "stay home if you're sick" is true, but that doesn't mean that you shouldn't get treated. She says there are effective flu medications that can help all reduce your symptoms.