Erie's tripledemic may be easing but still plenty of flu, RSV patients seeking treatment

David Bruce, Erie Times-News
·3 min read

At least one leg of Erie County's tripledemic seems to be waning as COVID-19 hospitalizations have fallen to near zero among county residents.

Erie hospitals had seen a surge of COVID-19, flu and RSV patients since November as all three respiratory illnesses peaked at nearly the same time, hence a so-called tripledemic. Though this most recent COVID-19 surge paled in comparison to previous spikes during the pandemic, it combined with flu and RSV to fill emergency departments with coughing, feverish patients.

Only two county residents were hospitalized with COVID-19 the week ending Jan. 27, compared to 25 patients the previous week, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. It's the lowest weekly total since mid-July.

The county's COVID-19 case totals also have decreased slowly over the past seven weeks, from an average of 55 a day to 16.9, the Erie County Department of Health reported.

COVID-19 deaths have also declined in the county each of the past four months:

  • October — 16

  • November — 13

  • December — 7

  • January — 3

"The COVID curve is starting to bend down, but you shouldn't draw a conclusion from a single week's worth of (hospitalization) data," said Jim Donnelly, R.N., UPMC Hamot's chief nursing and quality officer. "We may be getting past the peak of this triple respiratory illness season that has filled our EDs."

Though COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations have declined significantly, many county residents are dealing with flu and RSV.

Flu cases have only fallen slightly off their Christmas-week peak, while the county's number of RSV cases rose in late January after a monthlong decline, according to the county Health Department. County hospitalization totals were not available but officials with both Hamot and Saint Vincent Hospital said continue to see high numbers of flu and RSV patients.

"Flu is bad right now, especially type A flu," said Dr. Courtney Sampson, a Saint Vincent hospitalist. "Most of the admitted flu patients are older but we are seeing some in their 40s and 50s."

Saint Vincent Hospital continues to see a significant number of flu patients, though COVID-19 admissions have declined in recent weeks, said Dr. Courtney Sampson, a Saint Vincent hospitalist shown in a 2021 file photo.
Saint Vincent Hospital continues to see a significant number of flu patients, though COVID-19 admissions have declined in recent weeks, said Dr. Courtney Sampson, a Saint Vincent hospitalist shown in a 2021 file photo.

The county currently has a hospitalization rate of 3% for reported flu cases, which is lower than the typical rate of around 5%-10%. Two county residents have died from flu complications this season, the county Health Department reported.

"It's hard to say what a typical flu season looks like based on recent years, but this appears to be a flu season like we used to see five years ago," Donnelly said, referring to last year's extended and record-high (4,661 reported cases) season, and the 2020-21 flu season that only had 14 reported cases.

Current flu season 4th highest reported in Erie County

Another record-breaking flu season isn't out of reach, though. Here is a look at how this season compares to the county's other highest totals (flu became a reportable disease in 2003):

  • 2022-23 — 4,661

  • 2019-20 — 4,449

  • 2017-18 — 3,859

  • 2023-24 — 3,459 (through Feb. 2)

  • 2018-19 — 2,403

Ed Grande, a 76-year-old Millcreek Township resident, receives a dose of flu vaccine during LECOM Health's kickoff vaccination clinic at Zem Zem Shrine, 2525 W. 38th St., in this September 2023 file photo.
Ed Grande, a 76-year-old Millcreek Township resident, receives a dose of flu vaccine during LECOM Health's kickoff vaccination clinic at Zem Zem Shrine, 2525 W. 38th St., in this September 2023 file photo.

RSV hospital visits still occurring for newborns, seniors

Patients, primarily infants and older adults, also are still being admitted due to RSV complications. About 4% of all reported cases in the county result in a hospital admission, the county Health Department reported.

RSV is most serious in newborns because they can cause serious breathing issues, but it can also cause complications in older patients with other, chronic illnesses, Sampson said. Four county residents have died this season from RSV complications.

"The older patients who have RSV often get delirious, which could be the result of being dehydrated," Sampson said.

Though the tripledemic appears to be easing, people should still take precautions — especially if they or people they live with are at risk of complications from any of the three illnesses.

That means wearing masks in public, staying home if they don't feel well, and getting vaccinated, Donnelly said.

"Vaccinations work," Donnelly said. "There is nothing that protects better than that."

Contact David Bruce at dbruce@timesnews.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ETNBruce.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: COVID-19 cases drop, but still lots of flu, RSV cases in Erie County