Surge in Flu Cases in Pennsylvania Emergency Rooms

When Jeff and Joan McPartland visited their local emergency room on Friday, they were taken aback by the scene.

“We walked into that emergency room, and it was chaos,” Jeff McPartland from Camp Hill noted. “There were sick people everywhere…coughing and struggling to breathe. When I left that night, they were still there, the ER was just as packed.”

Joan, who went to UPMC West Shore in Hampden Township due to complications after back surgery, was one of the few patients with non-respiratory issues that day.

“The nurses mentioned it too,” Jeff added.

With a spike in influenza cases hitting many states, health officials in Pennsylvania are calling this flu season severe and expect it could worsen.

Federal data shows that 42 individuals have died from flu-related complications in Pennsylvania this winter.

Dr. John Goldman, an infectious disease specialist at UPMC in central Pennsylvania, remarked, “It’s clear that this year is seeing higher numbers than we’ve had in the last several seasons. In Pennsylvania, it’s considered high but not the very highest.”

States like New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Massachusetts currently report higher flu rates than Pennsylvania.

“Many neighboring states are experiencing higher flu levels,” Goldman observed. “I interpret that to mean the flu could get worse here.”

Health officials are monitoring ER visits for flu symptoms but not counting officially diagnosed cases.

Typically, a 3% rate of outpatient visits for respiratory illnesses indicates the start of flu season. Recent weeks have seen this rise to 8%, which exceeds levels from prior years.

“To put it mildly, that’s the highest it’s been since at least 2020,” Goldman stated. “Historically, flu season ramps up in early January and peaks around the first few weeks of the month. Right now, it’s unclear if we’re seeing a peak.”

The Impact of the Flu

Visits to the ER at Penn State Health Hampden Medical Center are particularly high, according to Dr. Dan McLaughlin, medical director of the emergency department.

While winter is usually busy for medical centers, he noted this year feels markedly busier, with a 10% increase compared to last year.

In fact, December 2025 was 6% busier than December 2024.

The state health department is currently monitoring flu activity in Pennsylvania, rating it stable but “very high.” Additionally, RSV and COVID-19 cases are also rising quickly.

“While respiratory viruses typically surge in winter, indications suggest this season could be more severe than usual, and we may not fully understand the impact for weeks,” an official reported via email.

As of January 3, flu statistics in Pennsylvania include:

• 50,221 laboratory-confirmed influenza cases
• 4,922 adult hospital admissions
• 1,234 pediatric hospital admissions
• 42 flu-related deaths

Statewide, the percentage of emergency visits for flu diagnosis is “very high” across all age groups.

The CDC reports that more than 33,000 individuals were hospitalized due to respiratory illnesses in just the last week. They’re estimating that at least 11 million Americans have fallen ill this flu season, with around 120,000 hospitalized. So far, 5,000 deaths from the flu have been reported, including eight children.

Goldman noted that most hospitalized patients have underlying health issues, which puts them at greater risk from the flu compared to healthier individuals.

“I didn’t bring my crystal ball today, but if I had to guess, I’d say we’ll see more cases over the next few weeks,” Goldman predicted. “I hope I’m wrong.”

A New Strain Emerges

Experts attribute much of the flu spike to the A H3N2 strain, which historically leads to more hospitalizations and fatalities among older adults. This strain is currently the dominant one for the season. They’re particularly monitoring a variant known as H3N2 subclade K, which represents 90% of cases. This variant differs from that included in this year’s flu vaccines.

The subclade K has caused early outbreaks in the UK, Japan, and Canada this year.

“There’s no proof that this new subclade results in more severe illness or higher hospitalization rates,” Goldman explained. “However, a greater number of flu cases tends to lead to more hospitalizations and deaths.”

This variant is also able to bypass some immunity provided by the vaccine or previous infections, which results in more people catching the flu, he noted.

Roughly 90% of flu-related deaths and hospitalizations occur in individuals aged 65 and older.

While the prior administration no longer recommends flu shots for children, many experts continue to advocate for vaccinations.

“It’s not too late to get the flu vaccine,” Goldman stressed. “We recommend it for everyone, especially those over 65 and those with pre-existing conditions. Given how severe this season is, if you haven’t received the shot yet, you really should.”

Initial data suggest this year’s vaccine effectively reduces flu-related ER visits and hospital admissions, according to state health officials.

“Public health experts consistently affirm that the vaccine provides robust protection against severe illness,” they added in an email.

The only sure way to distinguish between flu and Covid is through testing, especially since both can cause similar symptoms, including cough, fatigue, and body aches.

Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist, pointed out that the way symptoms appear could help differentiate them. With Covid, symptoms tend to arise gradually, while flu symptoms often hit hard and fast, like being “hit by a truck.”

Guidance from the Doctor

If you’re feeling unwell, it’s best to stay home.

“We all know people who cough and sneeze, looking clearly ill. It’s wise to avoid them,” Goldman advised. “If you’re sick, stay home from work or school, and if you have elderly relatives, it’s better not to visit them. The flu may not affect you much if you’re young and healthy, but it could be serious for older family members.”

Goldman’s advice for younger, healthier individuals is to avoid the ER unless it’s absolutely necessary, while those over 65 should seek care and might need antiviral drugs like Tamiflu.

Older adults should also get tested to rule out Covid or Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a common illness that can be severe for the elderly and those with chronic conditions.

Goldman isn’t recommending masks at this point.

So far, most hospitals and urgent care facilities in central Pennsylvania aren’t requiring masks, though some have signs asking anyone who is coughing to wear one.

During their visit to the ER, the McPartlands decided to be cautious.

“We quickly grabbed masks available and put them on, but hardly anyone else was wearing them,” Jeff McPartland shared.

He mentioned that his wife, who was admitted, is doing much better and he appreciates the care she’s receiving at UPMC West Shore.

“She’s not fully out of the woods yet, but yes, they’re providing excellent care,” he acknowledged.