Flu cases are spiking across Pennsylvania and much of the U.S., crowding emergency rooms and contributing to dozens of deaths, leaving many families worried and unsure how best to stay safe.

If you or someone you love has walked into a packed ER lately, you’re not alone. Health officials estimate that this flu season has already sickened millions of Americans, and in Pennsylvania alone, the outbreak has been linked to at least 42 deaths. Many hospitals are reporting scenes of “bedlam” as staff race to care for an influx of patients with high fevers, severe coughs, and difficulty breathing.


Busy hospital emergency room in Pennsylvania during flu season
Emergency departments across Pennsylvania are seeing a surge in patients with flu-like symptoms.

This page walks you through what’s going on this severe flu season, what the science tells us, and—most importantly—what you can do right now to protect yourself, your family, and vulnerable people in your community without panicking.


Why This Flu Season Is So Severe

Public health experts are describing the current flu season as one of the most intense in years. National surveillance from organizations like the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows:

  • Millions of Americans already infected with influenza.
  • High rates of doctor and emergency room visits for flu-like illness.
  • Rising hospitalizations, particularly among older adults, young children, and people with chronic conditions.
  • Dozens of confirmed flu-related deaths reported in Pennsylvania alone, with more expected as the season progresses.

Several factors can combine to make a flu season especially rough:

  1. Circulating strains: Some influenza strains are naturally more likely to cause severe disease.
  2. Vaccine match and uptake: When fewer people get vaccinated—or when the circulating strains differ from vaccine strains—more people get sick.
  3. Behavior patterns: Holiday travel, crowded indoor events, and less masking or ventilation can accelerate spread.
“Flu seasons are unpredictable, but what we’re seeing right now—especially in parts of Pennsylvania—is sustained, high levels of transmission that are overwhelming urgent care and emergency departments.”
— Infectious disease specialist, summarizing current surveillance data

What Overcrowded Emergency Rooms Mean for You

Stories from Pennsylvania, like Jeff and Joan McPartland walking into a local ER and finding “bedlam,” are becoming more common. When emergency rooms are packed with flu patients, it impacts everyone who needs care.

  • Long wait times: People with moderate but not life-threatening symptoms may wait hours to be seen.
  • Strain on staff: Physicians, nurses, and support staff are working at or beyond capacity, which can increase fatigue and burnout.
  • Delayed care for other emergencies: Heart attacks, strokes, injuries, and other urgent conditions may face delays if systems are overwhelmed.
  • Higher exposure risk: Crowded waiting rooms increase the chance of being exposed to flu or other respiratory viruses.

None of this is meant to scare you away from seeking help when you truly need it. It’s about helping you:

  1. Recognize when home care or telehealth is appropriate, and
  2. Identify warning signs that mean you should go to the ER, even if it’s crowded.

Flu Symptoms and Red Flags: When to Stay Home vs. Go In

Flu symptoms typically come on suddenly. Common signs include:

  • Fever or feeling feverish / chills
  • Dry cough, sore throat
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Body aches, headaches
  • Extreme tiredness
  • Sometimes vomiting and diarrhea (more common in children)

Most otherwise healthy people can recover at home with rest and supportive care. But certain symptoms are red flags that mean you should seek urgent or emergency help.

Emergency warning signs in adults

  • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
  • Pain or pressure in chest or abdomen
  • New confusion, inability to wake or stay awake
  • Bluish lips or face
  • Severe or persistent dizziness
  • Symptoms improve and then suddenly worsen again, especially with fever and cough

Emergency warning signs in children

  • Fast or troubled breathing
  • Bluish lips or face
  • Ribs pulling in with each breath, or grunting
  • Not drinking enough fluids, no tears when crying, or no urine for 8+ hours
  • Severe irritability or not wanting to be held
  • Being very sleepy, difficult to wake, or unresponsive
  • Fever with a rash, or any fever in infants younger than 3 months

If you or your child have any of these signs, call emergency services or go to the nearest ER, even if wait times are long.


How to Protect Yourself and Your Family This Flu Season

While no strategy can reduce risk to zero, a layered approach—using several tools together—offers strong protection against influenza, especially during a severe season.

1. Get a flu shot (it’s not too late)

Seasonal flu vaccines are updated regularly based on circulating strains. Even if the match isn’t perfect, vaccination:

  • Reduces your chance of getting sick with flu.
  • Makes illness milder if you do get infected.
  • Lowers your risk of hospitalization and death.
“Multiple studies over many years show that flu vaccination reduces the risk of severe outcomes like intensive care admission and death, especially in older adults and people with chronic conditions.”
— Summary of CDC and peer-reviewed research

You can typically get a flu shot at:

  • Pharmacies (often with walk-in availability)
  • Primary care or pediatric clinics
  • Workplace or community vaccine clinics

2. Use smart masking in high-risk settings

Masks remain a useful tool for respiratory viruses, particularly in:

  • Crowded indoor spaces (buses, trains, airports)
  • Healthcare settings (ERs, clinics, nursing homes)
  • Visits with someone who is older, pregnant, or has underlying conditions

A well-fitting mask—ideally a surgical mask or respirator-style mask such as a KN95—can reduce the amount of virus you inhale and exhale. This is especially helpful when flu is surging in your community.

3. Improve ventilation and air quality

Flu spreads mainly through respiratory droplets and aerosols. Better air means lower risk:

  • Open windows when possible to increase fresh air.
  • Use exhaust fans in kitchens and bathrooms.
  • Consider a HEPA air purifier in common areas if budget allows.
  • Move gatherings outdoors when weather permits.

4. Practice hand and surface hygiene

Handwashing doesn’t solve everything, but it still matters:

  • Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or being in public.
  • Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol) when soap and water aren’t available.
  • Disinfect high-touch surfaces—door handles, phones, keyboards, light switches—regularly, especially if someone at home is sick.

5. Stay home when sick, if you can

Staying home while contagious protects colleagues, classmates, and vulnerable people. In general, try to:

  • Stay home until at least 24 hours after your fever resolves without fever-reducing medication.
  • Avoid visiting nursing homes, hospitals, and high-risk relatives when you have symptoms.
  • Use masks and separate spaces (if possible) within your household if one person is sick.

If You Get the Flu: Evidence-Based Treatment and Home Care

Even with the best prevention strategies, people still get sick. What you do in the first 24–48 hours can make a difference—especially if you’re at higher risk of complications.

Antiviral medications

Prescription antiviral drugs such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu), baloxavir (Xofluza), zanamivir, and peramivir can:

  • Shorten the duration of symptoms by about 1 day on average.
  • Reduce the risk of complications and hospitalization in high-risk groups.
  • Be most effective when started within 48 hours of symptom onset.

These medications are not a cure-all, and not everyone needs them, but they can be important for:

  • Adults 65 and older
  • Pregnant people or those who recently gave birth
  • Young children, especially under 2 years
  • People with chronic medical conditions or weakened immune systems
  • Anyone with severe or rapidly worsening symptoms

Supportive care at home

For many people, careful home care is enough:

  1. Hydration: Sip water, broth, or electrolyte drinks regularly to replace lost fluids.
  2. Rest: Your body heals faster when you’re sleeping and not overexerting yourself.
  3. Fever and pain: Over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help, but follow dosing instructions and check with a pediatrician before giving any medications to children.
  4. Humidified air: A cool-mist humidifier or steamy bathroom can ease congestion and coughing.
  5. Light, nourishing food: Simple foods—soups, toast, fruits—are easier to tolerate when you’re ill.

Common Obstacles—and How Real People Work Around Them

Knowing what to do is one thing. Actually doing it—while juggling work, caregiving, and financial stress—is another. Here are some of the most common barriers people face during a bad flu season, and realistic ways to navigate them.

“I can’t afford to miss work.”

Many people hesitate to stay home when they’re sick because they fear lost income or job consequences. While there’s no perfect solution, you can:

  • Ask your employer about sick leave options before you’re ill.
  • Explore temporary remote work if your job allows it when you have mild symptoms.
  • Use masks, hand hygiene, and distance as much as possible if you must be around others.
  • Advocate, where feasible, for workplace policies that support staying home when contagious.

“The ER was so crowded I didn’t want to go back.”

People who’ve experienced packed emergency rooms sometimes delay returning, even when symptoms worsen. One practical workaround is to:

  1. Use telehealth or urgent care for earlier evaluation, before things become an emergency.
  2. Call ahead to ask about current wait times and alternative sites of care.
  3. Know your personal red-flag symptoms (like breathing trouble or chest pain) that override concerns about crowding.

“I’m overwhelmed by mixed messages online.”

Health advice online can be confusing or even dangerous. To stay grounded:

  • Rely on reputable sources such as:
  • Be cautious about any product or remedy that promises to “cure” the flu or prevent it 100%.
  • Discuss questions with a trusted healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Visual Guide: Reducing Flu Risk During a Surge

The following images and explanations offer a quick, visual summary of some of the most effective ways to reduce flu risk when cases are surging.

Doctor discussing flu vaccination with a patient in a clinic
Talking with a healthcare professional can help you make an informed decision about the flu vaccine, especially if you have underlying conditions.
Person washing hands at a sink with soap and water
Frequent handwashing with soap and water remains a simple, effective tool to cut down on the spread of many infections, including influenza.
Woman wearing a mask and using public transportation
Wearing a mask in crowded indoor spaces, especially during peak flu season, can reduce your exposure to respiratory droplets.
Family resting at home with tissues and warm drinks while recovering from illness
Rest, fluids, and supportive care at home help most people recover from flu without complications, while reducing spread to others.

Protecting the Most Vulnerable: A Community Effort

Severe flu seasons remind us that our choices affect more than just ourselves. When we get vaccinated, stay home when sick, and use masks in high-risk settings, we help shield:

  • Older neighbors and relatives
  • Newborns and young children too young to fully protect themselves
  • People undergoing cancer treatment or living with chronic illness
  • Healthcare workers who care for us when we’re at our most vulnerable

You may never know whose hospitalization—or life—you helped prevent by taking a few careful steps during a surge. But on a population level, the impact is very real.


Moving Forward: Stay Informed, Not Afraid

The spike in flu cases in Pennsylvania, packed emergency rooms, and rising death counts are understandably unsettling. Yet panic doesn’t help—information and action do.

You can’t control everything about this flu season, but you can:

  • Get your flu shot if you haven’t already.
  • Use masks in crowded indoor spaces during the surge.
  • Improve ventilation at home and work when possible.
  • Stay home when you’re sick, if you have the option.
  • Seek timely care—via telehealth, clinic, or ER—when warning signs appear.

Step by step, these choices lower your personal risk and lighten the load on emergency rooms and hospital staff who are working tirelessly through this severe season.

If you’re feeling anxious or unsure about what to do next, consider this your next small step: schedule a conversation with your healthcare provider or local pharmacist this week to review your flu prevention and treatment plan. Having that plan in place can make a chaotic season feel a little more manageable.