‘Quad-demic’ of viral infections stokes rise in illness, medical intervention

Sharon Hospital
Archive photo
“There was a period of time when we were seeing a ton of RSV, COVID and flu come in and norovirus was hot.”
— Dr. Mark Marshall, vice president of medical affairs, Sharon Hospital
SHARON — The expected trio of winter viruses have arrived — and they brought a new friend with them.
Post-holiday cases of influenza, COVID-19 and Respiratory Syncytial Virus — commonly known as RSV — have spiked in recent weeks, joined by widespread cases of norovirus, commonly known as the “stomach bug.”“Definitely we’re seeing plenty of all of them,” said Dr. Mark Marshall, Sharon Hospital’s vice president of medical affairs.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Friday, Jan. 17, that the amount of acute respiratory illness causing people to seek healthcare remains high across the nation and in Connecticut.
“Emergency department visits related to COVID-19 are elevated compared to fall and highest among young children and older adults,” according to a CDC report. “Visits for RSV are highest among young children, and visits for influenza remain elevated among all age groups.”
In recent weeks, Sharon Hospital has experienced a spike in admissions and people seeking medical care through its Emergency Department for flu, RSV, COVID-19 and norovirus.
“I would say that the last few weeks, from mid- to late-December through the first week of January, were exceedingly busy with a large volume of patients in the emergency department and a large number of admissions to the hospital for respiratory or GI viruses,” Marshall said. “I think we may actually be on the downturn a little bit, but there was a period where we were seeing a ton of RSV and COVID and flu … and norovirus was hot.”
He described norovirus as a gastrointestinal illness which causes severe vomiting and diarrhea. Older adults and very young children, he said, are particularly prone to serious dehydration.
Unlike respiratory viruses which spread via droplets, norovirus is spread via contact, such as touching contaminated surfaces or eating contaminated food.
The CDC reported that norovirus has been more common this season, with at least 495 outbreaks as of mid-December, about 36% higher than the previous year.
Severe year for flu
The CDC reported on Jan. 15 that the number of weekly flu hospital admissions continues to rise across the country, and that in the last week, 20 children have died from influenza-associated conditions.
Nationally, influenza test positivity increased to 18.8%, COVID-19 test positivity remained stable at 6.6%, RSV test positivity decreased to 8.9% and viral activity levels for both influenza and COVID-19 are at high levels, according to the CDC.
“Influenza predictions suggest that emergency department visits will remain at a high to very high level for the next two weeks,” the federal agency reported.
Which virus do I have?
So how do you know which respiratory virus rallied your immune system?
Sharon Hospital’s Marshall noted that symptoms for the “big three” — flu, RSV and COVID-19 — are similar, as are their courses of infection and complications.
The only way to positively determine which bug has invaded your cells is to get tested.
“If you are ill and seek treatment, you can test for these viruses individually or there is even a single swab test for flu, RSV and COVID,” he explained.
Marshall stressed the importance of getting vaccinated.
“Both the updated influenza and COVID vaccines are recommended, and it’s not too late for a flu vaccine.”
Flu, COVID-19 and RSV are all more dangerous to older adults and very young children, along with people with chronic illnesses and co-morbidities, including those who are immunocompromised, noted the Sharon Hospital physician.
Vaccines, he said, have been shown to reduce ICU admissions by 25%, and deaths by 30%. “And even if people who get the vaccine still get COVID, it reduces their risk of severe disease.”
Health officials’ recommended treatment for most of these infections includes resting, staying home when sick, getting adequate nutrition, washing your hands and drinking plenty of fluids. The CDC recommends that people in the community with COVID-19, influenza or RSV should remain home until fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications and symptoms are improving.
Marshall also noted that there are several antiviral treatments available for at-risk people, including Paxlovid for COVID-19 and Tamiflu for influenza.
HMPV threat?
In recent weeks reports of a wave of hospitalizations from another respiratory illness known as human metapneumovirus, or HMPV, which is sweeping across China, has stoked fears of a new global pandemic.
The virus causes symptoms similar to COVID-19, including fever, persistent cough and congestion — and in severe cases leads to pneumonia.
Marshall noted that HMPV has been around for years and most people have encountered this virus in childhood. At this time, he said, he does not see it as an imminent threat.
“I don’t believe what is happening in China represents the early signs of a new pandemic.”
Long-term town employees were recognized at the Town Board meeting on Thursday, June 12. Honorees pictured with Town Supervisor Leo Blackman, were Judy Carlson, Office Manager at the Town Garage, center, for her 35 years of service to the town and Megan Chamberlin, current Highway Superintendent, for 20 years.
AMENIA — Acknowledging the many years of service accumulated by town employees, the Town Board paused to honor that service at its meeting on Thursday, June 12.
“Thank you for making a difference,” said Town Supervisor Leo Blackman in recognizing Judy Carlson, Office Manager at the town garage, for her 35 years of service.
“Megan’s job is not an easy one,” Blackman said, honoring Megan Chamberlin, current Highway Superintendent who has served the town for 20 years.
Also among those honored was Town Clerk Dawn Marie Klingner for 20 years of service as Court Clerk.
Maureen Moore, Court Clerk, was also honored in absentia for her 20 years of town service.
In anticipation of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the start of the American Revolution in 2026, new historic markers are appearing at each of the local cemeteries where Revolutionary War veterans are buried. Unveiling the new marker at Amenia Union Cemetery on Saturday, June 21, were left to right, Town Historian Betsy Strauss, Jim Middlebrook representing the regional chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, and Gail Seymour, President of the Union Cemetery Association.
AMENIA — One by one, new historic markers are appearing at local cemeteries where Revolutionary War dead are buried. On Saturday, June 21, community members gathered to see a new marker unveiled at Amenia Union Cemetery on Leedsville Road.
A tent provided welcome shade for the attendees and refreshments as about 30 residents gathered for the unveiling and to share stories of local history with one another.
As with the first historic market installation at the Old Amenia Burying Ground, held in April, Amenia Union Cemetery graves of Revolutionary War veterans had been marked with American flags in advance.
Jim Middlebrook, representing the Columbia Mid-Hudson chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, attended along with other members of his chapter. Speaking before the unveiling, Middlebrook said that the historic marker project had begun in August 2024, and included a detailed process to certify the names on the graves.
Middlebrook described the work of the William C. Pomeroy Foundation of Syracuse whose mission is to promote “pride of place” by providing grants in support of installing historic markers and plaques nationwide to honor patriots for their service. Active now in seven or eight states, Middlebrook said, the foundation will soon add Connecticut and Massachusetts to the list.
The new Amenia Union marker honors “at least five veterans of the American Revolution interred between 1787 and 1810,” although Town Historian Betsy Strauss lists six veterans buried in the cemetery. The sixth, Gerhard Winegar, whose burial had been in 1781 could not fully satisfy the certification standards.
Strauss provided the following listing of six names:
Col. Colbe Chamberlain, 1739-1796
Capt. William Chamberlain, 1745-1810
Lieut. Samuel Snyder, 1712-1808
Gerhard Winegar, 1750-1781
Ensign Henry Winegar, 1723-1787
Capt. William Young, 1747-1806
Bee Bee the clown, face painters and a community wide scavenger hunt are among the activities planned for the Millerton Street Fair in Downtown Millerton on Saturday, June 28.
MILLERTON — The Millerton News, in partnership with the North East Community Center (NECC) and the Millerton Business Alliance, is hosting its first Street Fair on Saturday in a celebration of the town.
Rain or shine from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m, the fair will bring together local nonprofits and businesses, with live music, entertainment, kids’ activities, local eats, and family fun in Veterans Park, in front of the Millerton Inn, and beyond.
“The Millerton Street Fair will celebrate everything we love about this community — its spirit, its dedication to service and its creative energy,” said James Clark, publisher and CEO of The Millerton News.
Local nonprofits will showcase their work and impact, including Climate Smart Millerton, Eddie Collins Memorial Park, North East Historical Society, Townscape, Tri-Corner FEED, Village of Millerton, and the Webutuck Elementary School.Participating businesses include Bes, Little Red Bird Studio, NBT, The Elephant’s Tusk, and many more.Local retail and dining establishments will be open with special promotions. NECC’s Farmer’s Market will run during the event.
Among the planned festivities are live music from John Stey and the Resilience Brass Band, performances from Bee Bee the Clown, face painting by students from Webutuck High School, and a community-wide scavenger hunt for kids.Other kids’ activities include egg and spoon races, and a “touch-a-truck” open house at the firehouse.The Irondale Schoolhouse will be hosting a special exhibit, and the North East-Millerton Library will be offering signups for the Summer Reading Program, a science show from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., lawn games, and a cookie cook-off.
For more information, go to millertonnews.com/street-fair.
The Nine Partners Road Quaker Meetinghouse, built in 1780, will be the site of two summer lectures sponsored by the Millbrook Historical Society.
MILLBROOK — Long in the planning, the Millbrook Historical Society has announced that it is sponsoring two lectures in observance of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. Both lectures relating to Quaker history are to be held in the historic Quaker Meeting House on Nine Partners Road.
For the first talk, scheduled for Sunday, June 29, at 2 p.m., the historical society has invited Sarah Gronningsater, Professor of History at the University of Pennsylvania, to talk on “Quakers, Anti-slavery, and the American Revolution.” The topic will explore the role that New York’s Quakers, especially in the Hudson Valley, played in the rise of the anti-slavery movement that followed the American Revolution.
The second talk, scheduled for Sunday, July 27, at 2 p.m., invites Carl Lounsbury of the College of William and Mary and Colonial Williamsburg to speak on the architecture of the Nine Partners Meetinghouse. His talk is titled, “Nine Partners Meetinghouse Plan: A New Form in the Hudson Valley.” Expert in early American architecture, Lounsbury’s talk will compare Nine Partners with other later houses of worship in New York and New England.
Both lecture events will be held at the 1780 brick Nine Partners Quaker Meetinghouse in Millbrook. An earlier meetinghouse on the site had burned. The building has remained largely unchanged since the 18th century.
Given the age of the structure, handicapped access is limited and there are no rest room facilities.
Visitors should enter through the cemetery gate entrance.
The lectures are free and open to all, supported by a grant from the county and offered as part of Dutchess County’s participation in the nation’s 250th anniversary commemoration.