JOINS US LIVE. BAYLEE. YEAH, IF YOU FIND YOURSELF WITH THAT WINTER ITCH OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE FLU, DOCTORS I SPOKE WITH TODAY SAY THAT HYDRATION AND KEEPING YOUR FEVER DOWN ARE TWO OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER. THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IS REPORTING THAT EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS FOR PEOPLE WITH THE FLU ARE VERY HIGH RIGHT NOW, AND DOCTORS HERE IN LANCASTER SAY THEY’VE SEEN IT FIRSTHAND. WE SAID LAST YEAR WAS A REALLY BAD FLU, AND THEN THIS YEAR HAS BEEN EVEN WORSE. I THINK DOCTOR MEGAN DURHAM, A PEDIATRICIAN AT LANCASTER GENERAL HOSPITAL, SAYS THE EMERGENCY ROOM HAS SEEN A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN FLU CASES. LOTS OF SICK KIDS WITH VERY HIGH FEVERS, GI SYMPTOMS, VOMITING, DIARRHEA, NOT WANTING TO EAT VERY MUCH. AND SO DEALING WITH A LOT OF DEHYDRATION AS WELL. BUT THE THE HIGH FEVERS AND PROLONGED FEVERS HAVE BEEN EXTRA BAD THIS YEAR. SHE SAYS CHILDREN, THE ELDERLY AND THE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED ARE MOST AT RISK FOR COMPLICATIONS. KIDS CAN SOMETIMES, WITH HIGH FEVERS, GET CONFUSION, AND THAT’S REALLY SCARY TO A LOT OF PARENTS. AND WE’VE BEEN SEEING SOME OF THAT. THE MOST COMMON ARE THINGS LIKE DEHYDRATION, PNEUMONIA, LOW OXYGEN. ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, LANCASTER COUNTY HAS SOME OF THE HIGHEST NUMBERS OF FLU IN THE STATE. OVER 2500. THE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY AS A WHOLE IS SEEING THE MOST FLU DIAGNOSES COMPARED TO THE REST OF PENNSYLVANIA. DOCTOR DURHAM SAYS THERE ARE WAYS TO PROTECT YOURSELF. A REGULAR SURGICAL MASK WILL PROTECT YOU. COVER YOUR COUGH. IF YOU’VE GOT A COUGH, STAY AWAY FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE SICK. THE FLU CAN LIVE ON SURFACES, SO HANDWASHING IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT, SHE SAYS. GETTING YOUR FLU SHOTS EVERY YEAR DECREASES THE RISK FOR HOSPITALIZATION, AND IT CAN BE GIVEN OUT AS EARLY AS SIX MONTHS OLD. I THINK KIDS SHOULD GET THE FLU SHOT AS SOON AS THEY CAN BECAUSE THE YOUNGER YOU ARE, THE MORE LIKELY YOU ARE TO HAVE THOSE COMPLICATIONS LIKE NEEDING HOSPITALIZATION. AND IF WE CAN DO ANYTHING TO REDUCE HOSPITALIZATIONS IN THOSE KIDS, I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT. DOCTOR DURHAM SAYS THAT THEY HAVE SEEN DEATHS RELATED TO THE FLU. THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HAS REPORTED 42 FLU RELATED DEATHS IN PENNSYLVANIA FOR THE 2025, 2026 SEASON, SO IF YOU ARE FEELING SICK YOURSELF, MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE STAYING AWAY FROM OTHERS. MAKE SURE THAT YOU WASH YOUR HANDS AND KEEP YOURSELF SAFE AND HEALTHY THIS FLU SEASON.
Flu cases rise sharply in Lancaster County, doctors urge precautions
Lancaster County is experiencing a significant increase in flu cases, with local doctors emphasizing the importance of hydration and fever management as emergency room visits rise.
Updated: 6:17 PM EST Jan 6, 2026
The Pennsylvania Department of Health reports that emergency room visits for flu symptoms are “very high,” with Lancaster doctors witnessing the increase firsthand.Dr. Megan Durham, a pediatrician at Lancaster General Hospital, said, “We said last year was a really bad flu, and then this year has been even worse.” She noted a significant rise in flu cases, particularly among children, who are experiencing high fevers, gastrointestinal symptoms, vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration. “The high fevers and prolonged fevers have been extra bad this year,” she said.Durham highlighted that children, the elderly, and the immunocompromised are most at risk for complications. “Kids can sometimes, with high fevers, get confusion. And that’s really scary to a lot of parents. And we’ve been seeing some of that,” she said. “The most common are things like dehydration, pneumonia, low oxygen, dehydration.”The Pennsylvania Department of Health has reported that Lancaster County has over 2,500 flu cases, making it one of the hardest-hit areas in Pennsylvania. The Susquehanna Valley is experiencing the highest number of flu diagnoses in the state. Durham advised that wearing a regular surgical mask, covering coughs, avoiding sick individuals and frequent handwashing are effective preventive measures. She emphasized the importance of annual flu vaccinations, which can be administered to children as young as six months old. “I think kids should get the flu shot as soon as they can, because the younger you are, the more likely you are to have those complications, like needing hospitalization,” she said. “If we can do anything to decrease hospitalizations in those kids, I think that is important.”Durham also reported flu-related deaths this year, with the Department of Health confirming 42 flu-related deaths in Pennsylvania for the 2025-2026 season. Residents are advised to wash their hands, take care of themselves and stay home if they or someone they have been in contact with is unwell.
LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. —
The Pennsylvania Department of Health reports that emergency room visits for flu symptoms are “very high,” with Lancaster doctors witnessing the increase firsthand.
Dr. Megan Durham, a pediatrician at Lancaster General Hospital, said, “We said last year was a really bad flu, and then this year has been even worse.” She noted a significant rise in flu cases, particularly among children, who are experiencing high fevers, gastrointestinal symptoms, vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration. “The high fevers and prolonged fevers have been extra bad this year,” she said.
Durham highlighted that children, the elderly, and the immunocompromised are most at risk for complications.
“Kids can sometimes, with high fevers, get confusion. And that’s really scary to a lot of parents. And we’ve been seeing some of that,” she said. “The most common are things like dehydration, pneumonia, low oxygen, dehydration.”
The Pennsylvania Department of Health has reported that Lancaster County has over 2,500 flu cases, making it one of the hardest-hit areas in Pennsylvania. The Susquehanna Valley is experiencing the highest number of flu diagnoses in the state.
Durham advised that wearing a regular surgical mask, covering coughs, avoiding sick individuals and frequent handwashing are effective preventive measures. She emphasized the importance of annual flu vaccinations, which can be administered to children as young as six months old.
“I think kids should get the flu shot as soon as they can, because the younger you are, the more likely you are to have those complications, like needing hospitalization,” she said. “If we can do anything to decrease hospitalizations in those kids, I think that is important.”
Durham also reported flu-related deaths this year, with the Department of Health confirming 42 flu-related deaths in Pennsylvania for the 2025-2026 season. Residents are advised to wash their hands, take care of themselves and stay home if they or someone they have been in contact with is unwell.