Pa. Hospitals Manage ‘Quad-Demic’

January 15, 2025

This winter, Pennsylvania’s hospitals are seeing an influx of patients with respiratory symptoms, while also continuing to treat many critically ill and injured patients in their emergency departments.

Here’s what you need to know:

• State of the spread:  Per the state’s weekly dashboard, more than 15 percent of emergency department visits were for respiratory symptoms.
  • This year, hospitals are seeing high levels for four seasonal illnesses (flu, norovirus, RSV, and COVID-19).
• Notable:  Globally, public health experts also are monitoring human metapneumovirus (HMPV), which has been increasing in China.
  • Federal health officials have said the uptick is “not currently a cause for concern in the U.S.”
• National outlook:  The positivity rate for the flu is stable at 18.6 percent. COVID-19 test positivity has remained stable at 6.9 percent, and RSV test positivity increased to 11.6 percent, per federal reporting from this week.
• Key takeaways:  Hospitals are here to support patients across the commonwealth, 24/7/365.
  • Consider your primary health care provider, urgent care, or telehealth for non-emergency care. Always go to the emergency department for emergencies or life-threatening illnesses and injuries and call 9-1-1 if you need immediate medical attention.
• Room for optimism:  While viral activity is expected to remain high for several weeks, the latest data “show the possibility of a decline in illnesses” soon.
  • This reporting comes with a caveat that the holidays may have contributed to data reporting delays or changes in health care patient trends.

Additional information on the state of the spread is available online.