Flu, COVID, RSV and Norovirus are colliding in Virginia
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The flu is once again colliding with COVID and RSV in Virginia — but this time, it's happening while norovirus cases are well above normal levels nationwide.
Why it matters: The result is a "quad-demic" of illness hitting simultaneously in what's shaping up to be a more active virus season than last year.
The big picture: Overall respiratory illness activity is high and trending up as of last Friday, according to the Virginia Department of Health.
- Those illnesses account for a greater percentage of ER visits (about 20%) than they were the past two years around this time.
- And in the week of Jan. 19-25, VDH reported 19 Norovirus-like outbreaks — exceeding the figures from last January.
Threat level: Kids are the ones visiting the hospital the most for respiratory illnesses, per VDH data, specifically the 0-4 age group for COVID and RSV and 5-to-17-year-olds for flu.
- The Central and Eastern parts of the state have the highest respiratory illness levels.
- It's also where two children died from the flu, VDH announced this week.
- One was between 5 and 12 years old from Eastern Virginia. The other was a teenager from the Central region, which includes Chesterfield, Henrico, Richmond and Hanover.
Flashback: Virginia recorded 5 flu-related pediatric deaths in the 2022-23 respiratory season and 3 in the 2023-24 season.
Between the lines: The "quad-demic" is happening as the 2024-25 flu shot rates for kids statewide is lower than it was last year.
- VDH data also shows only 30% of all Virginians have gotten their flu vaccine this year. About 13% have received the latest COVID shot.
The bottom line: Keep washing those hands and covering your coughs.
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