Have you heard of the ‘quad-demic’? Covid, the flu, RSV, and norovirus are on the rise

FARMINGTON, Conn. (WFSB) - Have you heard of the ‘quad-demic’?

It’s possible you or someone you know is a victim of it.

Around the country and in Connecticut, four viruses have been on the rise since November, covid, the flu, RSV, and norovirus.

Epidemiologists from UConn Health and Hartford Healthcare say cases for those four viruses are up in the state, especially for the flu. Hospitalizations are up too.

Doctors say they’re seeing more people wearing masks if they’re not feeling well but have to go out.

Since we’re well into the second half of the flu season, the hope is they will start trending down.

But vaccine and flu shot rates aren’t quite where doctors would like to see them.

“Every year around the holidays I get nailed with something. This year, I got a stomach bug. It was no fun. Wash your hands, take care of yourself,” said Nick Dethlefsen, Hartford.

“We have seen hospitalizations associated with all these viruses here at UCONN and around the state. Typically, the folks who are hospitalized are older or have underlying medical conditions that make them higher risk. That’s a group that’s critical for targeting preventative measures like vaccination,” said Dr. David Banach, UConn Health Hospital Epidemiologist.

Doctor David Banach specializes in infectious diseases at UConn Health.

He has been studying the high influenza rate in Connecticut the past few weeks, adding covid and RSV cases are up too.

“This year we are seeing high rates of flu activity. It’s been among the higher side compared to recent years in terms of the amount of virus circulating. We’re optimistic we’re hitting a peak but we’ll have to see moving forward,” Dr. Banach said.

The cold weather brings more people inside which allows for a greater chance of transmission for viruses.

You should not be around people when you are sick, potentially spreading one of these viruses.

Doctor Ulysses Wu is Hartford Healthcare’s chief epidemiologist.

“Try not to get other people sick. Maybe don’t go to that party, maybe don’t go to that concert, maybe don’t go out to dinner. Maybe not go to work,” he said.

According to the CT Department of Public Health, there are at least 200 people with RSV right now, nearly 800 people with covid over the last two weeks, and more than 3,700 people with the flu.

Doctors also recommend wearing a mask if you are sick.

When it comes to prevention, doctors recommend washing your hands and cleaning shared surfaces.