PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — February is typically the peak of flu season, but this year, hospitalizations from the flu hit a 15-year peak, according to data from the CDC. And the Philadelphia region is one of the hardest-hit in the United States.
The city’s Department of Public Health says detections of influenza A have remained high. The Pennsylvania Department of Health says not only is activity very high but it has also actually increased.
The CDC measures respiratory illness across a broad range of diagnoses, including severe infections like influenza, RSV and COVID-19. According to the agency, levels of acute respiratory illness in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware all register as "very high."
Across the nation, hospital emergency visits for the flu, specifically, are very high, while only moderate for RSV and actually low for COVID-19. Data suggests flu is outpacing the others, not necessarily because of a downturn in COVID-19 numbers, but rather because of a particularly aggressive flu season, according to KYW Medical Editor Dr. Brian McDonough.
He says the spread and severity this flu season could be attributed to two main things. First, indoor gatherings are more common than they were immediately post-pandemic, and low temperatures are forcing people inside into close quarters.
“People weren’t necessarily getting out and hanging out with each other in close settings like they are now, so it makes sense that influenza is kind of raising its ugly head right now,” he said.
The second reason: “Flu vaccines are down this year. We didn’t get as many people getting vaccinated. So that puts more people at risk, and they might get more serious symptoms.”
McDonough says the flu vaccine will help people—especially adults over 50—stem the spread and keep symptoms in check.
To stay safe, one basic precaution is more important than anything else, McDonough says: “Wash your hands. Not only wash your hands—but don’t be rubbing your eyes or biting your nails.”
The most at-risk groups are the very old and very young, as well as people with pre-existing conditions such as asthma, heart disease and diabetes.