Why the number of reported flu cases in Erie County set another seasonal record

David Bruce, Erie Times-News
·3 min read

A record number of flu cases has once again been reported in Erie County, though physicians said it doesn't feel like a record-breaking season.

The Erie County Department of Health reported 4,681 flu cases as of March 15, which surpasses the previous record of 4,661 cases reported during the 2022-23 season. In fact, a record has been set four of the past seven flu seasons.

"It feels like we have had a slightly above average flu season," said Dr. Vincent Proy, a family medicine physician with Saint Vincent Medical Group of Corry.

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

The high number of reported flu cases this season and in other recent seasons could be due to increased testing rather than more people with flu, said Proy and other physicians.

Many local medical offices and hospital emergency departments now use a single swab test for flu, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus whenever a patient arrives with respiratory symptoms like congestion and coughing.

"Testing for flu prior to the COVID pandemic wasn't emphasized," Proy said. "We usually prescribed the antiviral drug Tamiflu if a patient's symptoms were consistent with flu."

Now physicians are more likely to test patients, at least to rule out COVID-19. Once a patient tests positive for flu, they become a reported case.

More: 'Typical' Erie County flu season still could set record for cases. How is that possible?

Here is a look at the county's highest annual flu case totals since flu became a reportable disease in 2003:

  • 2023-24 — 4,681 (through March 15)

  • 2022-23 — 4,661

  • 2019-20 — 4,449

  • 2017-18 — 3,859

  • 2018-19 — 2,403

More: COVID-19 is waning but these viruses are still hanging around as we head into early spring

Flu season isn't sending lots of people to the hospital

While the county's number of flu cases set another record, the 2023-24 flu season doesn't seem to be particularly severe. A total of 142 county residents (3% of all cases) have been hospitalized with flu, which is slightly less than the usual 5%, the county Health Department reported.

Fewer than five county residents have died this season due to flu complications. The county Health Department no longer identifies case counts that are fewer than five.

"Based on my patients, more people have been admitted to the hospital with flu," Dr. Kylie Morris, a family medicine physician with UPMC Hamot's West Erie Medical Group, said in late February. "Maybe some of them went to the emergency department with something else and then got tested."

Erie County's flu season isn't finished yet

The 2023-24 flu season hasn't ended. The county Health Department reported 105 cases the week ending March 15, continuing a slow decline that started around New Year's Day.

A higher percentage of cases (48 of 105 last week) are type B, which is usually not as severe but more often causes gastrointestinal issues. Type B cases often rise toward the end of a flu season.

"It's not too late to consider the flu vaccine," Proy said. "It's been particularly effective among the pediatric population."

Contact David Bruce at dbruce@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNBruce.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie County sets record for flu cases, according to Health Department