‘Quad-Demic’ Of Illnesses Hit CA Emergency Rooms

CALIFORNIA — Public health officials are warning that a “quad-demic” — a contagious combination of COVID-19, influenza, RSV and the nasty stomach bug norovirus — is putting pressure on California emergency rooms and hospitals.

Respiratory viruses are at high or very high levels across most of the country, according to the latest surveillance report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The agency said in an update Friday that nationally, wastewater surveillance shows viral activity is high for influenza A and moderate for RSV.

COVID-19 levels are low, but coupled with norovirus, offer a quadruple threat.

Norovirus data from public health laboratories from around the country tallied by the CDC shows that Midwest states from Kansas to Michigan are the hardest hit by the highly contagious stomach bug, whose symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea. Norovirus positivity test levels in all regions of the country are as high or higher than last season’s peak nationwide.

Here’s the situation in California:

Influenza activity: According to the CDC, seasonal influenza activity remains high across most of the country. While some indicators have decreased or remained stable this week compared to last, officials say this could be due to changes in healthcare seeking behavior or reporting during the holidays rather than an indication that the flu activity has peaked.

The country is still experiencing elevated influenza activity that is expected to continue for several more weeks, health officials said.

In California, the majority of positive influenza specimens are type A with both H1 and H3 strains circulating. The overall percentage of influenza detections in clinical sentinel laboratories during the week ending on Jan. 18 was 23.1 percent up from 19.9 percent during the week ending in Jan. 11, according to the California Department of Public Health.

RSV activity: According to healthcare officials, the wastewater viral activity level for RSV is currently high in California.

The overall percentage of RSV detections in clinical sentinel laboratories during the week ending in Jan. 18 was 6.3 percent compared to 8 percent during the week ending in Jan. 11, according to the California Department of Public Health.

In addition, only a small percentage of eligible Californians have received the appropriate respiratory virus vaccines.

According to the CDC, wastewater monitoring can detect viruses spreading from one person to another within a community earlier than clinical testing and before people who are sick go to their doctor and hospital.

COVID-19 activity: According to the CDC, wastewater viral activity levels for COVID-19 are moderate across the country as of Tuesday, Jan. 28.

In California, COVID-19 activity continues to be low.

One confirmed human infection with influenza A(H5) virus — otherwise known as bird flu — was reported to the CDC in California this week.

To date, human-to-human transmission of influenza A(H5) virus has not been identified in the United States, according to the CDC.

This case was reported by the California Department of Public Health and occurred in a child less than 18 years old with no known contact with influenza A(H5N1) virus-infected animals or humans. According to the CDC, investigation into the source of infection for this case is ongoing, and no human-to-human transmission has been identified.

In its most recent update on respiratory viruses, the CDC said COVID predictions for the next two weeks suggest that emergency department visits will remain at a lower level compared to prior winter seasons. Influenza predictions suggest that emergency department visits will be high and will increase in most states.