The U.S., and particularly New York, is witnessing a significant rise in influenza, COVID-19, and other respiratory infections such as the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Northwell Health, a comprehensive healthcare delivery network with 28 hospitals in New Hyde Park, N.Y., reported a considerable statewide surge in viral infections affecting emergency departments, urgent care facilities, and primary care units as of December 18. The concurrent widespread of multiple viruses – influenza, COVID-19, RSV, pertussis, measles, and norovirus – has added considerable strain to the healthcare system.
Recent data from the New York State Department of Health shows a notable 75% increase in flu-related hospitalizations within one week, escalating from 798 in late November to 1,399 in early December. The trend is not isolated to New York, with the rest of the U.S. also reporting higher, early-onset flu hospitalization rates. Examples include Texas, where the number of flu-related emergency room visits during the second week of December had nearly doubled from the prior week. Post-Thanksgiving, the incident rates of COVID-19, influenza, and RSV cases in New York witnessed a marked upturn, leading Northwell to colorfully characterize the scenario as a ‘tripledemic.’
A similar situation was observed during the 2023-24 respiratory virus season when the trio peaked in January 2024, reaching levels higher than normal. As of mid-December, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported nationwide low, but steadily increasing, respiratory illness activity. According to Northwell, flu hospitalizations are evenly split between children and older adults, with its Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New York City operating at full capacity. Northwell further highlighted a 35% weekly rise in flu cases, with hospitalizations rising at a 75% weekly rate, potentially indicating an increased severity of the flu.
A ‘subclade K’ mutation of the H3N2 virus is speculated to be behind the spurt in flu activity. This mutation is a strain of the Influenza A virus and is more likely to cause severe illness, especially in older adults and young children. Over a third of the flu tests conducted by Northwell in the week ending December 14 returned positive for the H3 subtype of the Influenza A virus, contrasting markedly with the 10% positivity rate recorded during the same week in 2024. With flu admissions already rapidly rising, U.S. healthcare systems need to prepare for a potentially demanding respiratory virus season ahead.
Source: https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/quality/public-health/flu-season-hits-new-york-hospitals-hard/