Second Surge of Flu Extends into February

February 17, 2025

Pennsylvania continues to manage a persistent respiratory virus season with flu levels remaining very high across the commonwealth.

In recent years, COVID-19 has been responsible for most severe cases and deaths, but we’re seeing some different national trends emerge during this respiratory virus season, including more outpatient visits for the flu.

Here’s what you need to know:

• State of the spread:  Flu activity is very high in Pennsylvania with more than 128,600 laboratory-confirmed cases.
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is decreasing but remains at high levels, while COVID-19 emergency department visits are still low statewide.
• Dominant strain:  Flu A is increasing week-over-week, with more than 26,580 cases reported through the week ending February 8.
• Positive tests:  Test positivity for the flu (31.6%), COVID-19 (4.8%), and RSV (6.8%) have been comparable to the previous week.
• Severe cases:  In Pennsylvania, about 17 percent of emergency department visits were for respiratory symptoms, up slightly from the week prior (16.38%).
  • The percentage of emergency department visits for the flu (7.92%) has been rising week-over-week, while RSV (0.45%) and COVID-19 (0.98%) have remained relatively flat.
  • There have been 256 flu-related deaths, and 727 COVID-19-related deaths during this season in the commonwealth.
• National outlook:  Across the U.S., the flu has surpassed COVID-19 as the main driver of deaths associated with a respiratory illnesses. About 2.6 percent of deaths were attributed to the flu during the most recent week, while COVID-19 was responsible for 1.4 percent.

HAP continues to encourage everyone to follow the proper public health precautions, including thoroughly washing hands, covering coughs and sneezes, staying home when sick, and getting vaccinated against COVID-19 and the flu.

Additional information on the latest statewide public health figures is available online.