HARRISBURG (TNS) — It’s that time of year when talk turns to holiday plans and that thing “that’s going around.”
The official start of winter has not yet arrived but overall rates of COVID-19, flu and RSV are ticking upward across the country, according to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Reflecting the national picture, Pennsylvania is seeing a rise in seasonal illnesses.
Overall rates of COVID, flu and RSV across Pennsylvania are “moderate” according to the CDC, while emergency rooms are seeing rising numbers of patients with the big three seasonal respiratory illnesses.
In central Pennsylvania, the head of one large hospital emergency department said so far his ER is caring for more patients with gastrointestinal illness.
“We are seeing viral illnesses. COVID and flu have not hit here yet,” said Dr. Jed Zeigler, medical director of the Emergency Department at Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center.
Like respiratory illnesses, higher rates of stomach bugs result from seasonal conditions where people are indoors and in closer proximity to others, such as holiday parties and crowded shopping malls.
Zeigler said his ER has seen an uptick in patients with respiratory illness but that it’s par for the course at this time of year.
“Every health system struggled with these, every ER in the nation has much higher volumes over winter months, along with the normal cases we see,” he said. “We may have to admit someone with gastrointestinal illness if they need rehydration or with RSV if they are elderly and have heart failure or COPD.”
Zeigler said he is hopeful the influx of seasonal illness cases will be spaced apart to reduce pressure on hospitals. “They come around once a year, ” he said. “I just hope they don’t all come at the same time.”
Seasonal illness in the area is already causing more students to miss school.
Elaine Rampulla, head of nursing for Carlisle Area School District, said she has noticed an increased rate of absenteeism due to illness but it’s not unusual for December.
“You see that a lot this time of year,” she said. “If it’s not one thing it’s another. We’ve had kids out with strep throat, gastrointestinal illness of some kind, even COVID.
A few weeks ago, the primary illness was pneumonia, she said.“Knock on wood that it has settled down,” Rampulla said. “We are happy for the break. It keeps the germs away, of course they see everyone in their families and spread it to them.”
The good news, according to the CDC, is that the winter virus season is likely not have a higher number of combined hospitalizations from COVID-19, influenza, and RSV compared to last year.
However, peak hospitalizations from all respiratory viruses remain likely to be much higher than they were before the emergence of COVID-19, the agency said.
Here’s how to protect yourself:
Get vaccinated. Annual flu and COVID-19 vaccines are now recommended for everyone.
The RSV vaccine is recommended for those over 65 and those under 65 with weakened immune systems or underlying respiratory conditions. However, it’s important for parents to protect young children because RSV is the number one cause of hospitalization among infants. Most of the time RSV is mild but it can become serious among children under 5.
Practicing good hand hygiene is critical to preventing the spread of seasonal illness.
Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with warm soapy water for at least 20 seconds or use sanitizer if you don’t have access to water.
Don’t touch your face. Touching one’s face with hands that have been on an infected surface is a primary way illnesses spread. Use a tissue when you sneeze and if you don’t have a tissue use your arm, not your hands.
Wear a mask or stay home if you have symptoms of respiratory disease.
The state Department of Health recommends taking COVID tests if you think you have COVID-19 and seeking treatment to reduce the chances of being hospitalized.
Every household is eligible for four free at-home COVID tests through the federal government.
