As flu cases continue to spread, Henrico healthcare providers warn: 'We're still very much in the woods'

If you’re feeling under the weather, with a runny nose, cough, congestion, fever or fatigue, you’re not alone.

Healthcare practitioners around Henrico County are seeing an increase in people checking into clinics and emergency rooms with flu-like illnesses and more people testing positive for flu, with a predicted increase as schools enter their second week back in session after winter holiday break and gatherings.

“It went from a handful of patients that had the flu virus to now essentially every patient we're seeing,” said Honey Harris, a nurse practitioner at the CareNow urgent care clinic located near Willow Lawn, which is affiliated with HCA Virginia Health Systems. “We see over 50 patients a day on our urgent care side, most of which are testing positive for either flu or Covid.”

According to Virginia Department of Health data, influenza type A is the primary upper respiratory virus circulating locally.

The influenza A strain with the subclade K variant is what practitioners like Dr. Mike Murchie, medical director at the Crossover Healthcare ministry free charitable clinic on Quioccasin Road, are seeing locally.

“This strain worldwide has been more contagious than in other years and that seems to be the case from what we're experiencing as well,” said Murchie, whose clinics see 7,000 unique patients a year. “It's a type of variant that the world hasn't seen much of. So, because of that, more people are getting it.”

Contracting the flu can result in serious symptoms like high fevers and aches, necessitating those who contract it to see health care professionals for diagnosis and relief.

“Fever and aches are alarming side effects that makes patients say, ‘Okay, now it's time to go in.’” Harris said. “If you just feel under the weather, I think it's important to get checked in to prevent the risk of exposing yourself to others. That's what we're seeing right now, especially after the holiday season and people traveling. Patients come in and they say, ‘I feel under the weather. I just don't feel myself’ or ‘I'm having body aches, a high fever or sore throat, a cough and, I’d like to get checked.’ Those symptoms warrant testing.”

Symptoms can last from three to seven days, and a cough can linger longer.

Healthcare professionals recommend rest, staying home, staying away from family members that are healthy as to not infect others, washing hands well, using different restrooms if you can, washing surfaces and not sharing any food or drink.

“For high-risk patients, I'm going to push for an antiviral called Tamiflu. This medication helps decrease the shedding of the virus and helping you feel better quicker,” Harris said. “It can keep the high-risk population out of the hospital.”

For younger adult patients in their 20s or 30s, Harris often informs them of home remedies that help the immune system like vitamins such as vitamin C, zinc, elderberry, lots of rest and fluid hydration with electrolytes.

Data shows peaks

Nationally,  the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports a worsening flu season, with an estimated 120,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths from flu so far, according to SciLine.

State health data is showing that clinics and emergency rooms throughout Virginia have seen an increase in the number of people contracting the flu. The most recent data from the VDH Respiratory Illness Dashboards showed there were 4,000 reported cases of influenza, down from 4,790 cases the previous week.

Severe influenza that causes trouble breathing or chest pains requires hospitalizations. HCA health system’s three area hospitals and the Hanover emergency department reported having 406 influenza cases logged for the fourth quarter of 2025, compared to 327 cases for the fourth quarter of 2024.

“January and February tend to be our highest flu cases so we would expect to see even more cases in the next two months,” said Wes Hester, HCA's director of media relations.

Epidemiologist Dr. Melissa Viray, deputy director for the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts, said influenza cases made up 8.4% of all recent emergency department visits, compared to about 10.4% the week prior – a decrease in emergency department visits for flu. 

This past week in Virginia, there was a slight dip – from 24.9% to 23.4% – in the percentage of respiratory illness-focused emergency department visits.

“So we're still very much in the woods,” Viray said. “It's still important to emphasize that we are still seeing a fair amount of influenza and other respiratory viruses in the community.”

Seniors most at risk

Aside from causing those who contract it to feel achy, weak and like they've been hit by a truck, the influenza A strain can hit people suddenly and can be fatal, especially for the elderly and young children.

“The flu can have very severe consequences,” Viray said. “We can see deaths even in children. In the U.S. to date, for this flu season alone, we've already seen nine pediatric deaths, and that's something that no parent should have to experience. It comes back to: the more we can prevent transmission the more we can decrease these sorts of outcomes.”

There have been no childhood flu deaths in Virginia this year, but there were six deaths of minors from the flu last year.

Those who are immunocompromised and those with organ transplants also are at a higher risk because it's harder for their bodies to fight off the virus, which can cause secondary infections like pneumonia or types of upper respiratory issues like an ear infection, Viray said.

Those people may need to be hospitalized as a result, she said.

This past week, VDH investigated 17 influenza outbreaks across the state at long-term living facilities, where the elderly are most at risk. 

At the four Pinnacle Living retirement and assisted living residences in and near Henrico, staffers provide ongoing education to residents, families, and team members about the importance of staying up-to-date with recommended vaccinations as the health and well-being of their residents is a top priority.

“We host annual vaccine clinics within our communities to support access and awareness,” said Pinnacle Living's vice president of clinical services Temeika Ross. “We take a proactive approach to illness prevention by closely monitoring current health trends and collaborating with local health departments when needed. Strong hand hygiene and thorough disinfecting practices play a critical role in reducing the risk and spread of viruses, and these measures are consistently reinforced across our communities.

Ross said when a Pinnacle Living resident becomes ill, he or she is evaluated promptly by a provider to help prevent serious complications.

Prevention and treatment are key

Washing hands and staying away from people who are sick is advice repeated by medical professionals.

“If you are sick, stay home from work – generally staying home is best,” said Leighton Mascari, a clinical pharmacist at Bremo Pharmacy, who also urges everyone to get vaccinated for the flu. “Upper respiratory infections spread by coughing, sneezing or coming into contact with someone being sick. So, stay home if you're not feeling well, stay away from folks that may be more at risk, such as babies or older adults or folks with lower immune systems.

VDH data shows that only 28% of Virginians have received the 2025-26 influenza vaccine, with adults 65 and older having the highest rates of coverage.

“It’s not too late to get the flu vaccine, as late is better than not getting it at all. While flu season peaks in the winter, it often extends into spring,” Hester said. “Getting the flu vaccine is the most important measure to protect yourself and others. Avoiding large crowds and close contact is also advisable as is practicing good hygiene and maintaining a healthy lifestyle to keep your immune system strong.”

Risks for those without insurance

Rufus Phillips, CEO with the Virginia Association of Free and Charitable Clinics, said this flu season has been difficult for uninsured people, who often delay visits to a doctor until complications arise – after the critical window for antiviral treatment – because they fear the cost.

“This delay, combined with lower vaccination rates due to barriers like cost and transportation, leads to significantly higher risks of hospitalization for this group,” Phillips said.

Low-income and uninsured patients have other challenges, Murchie said.

“If the appointments are all full and then they can't get in, then they have to decide about the cost of urgent care or an emergency room,” Murchie said. “So that creates a challenge in those settings. There's also a lot of people that are uninsured and low income and aren't qualified and members of a free and charitable clinic, so when they all of a sudden have that illness, they have an especially hard time because they don't even have the option of calling their primary care doc.”

For free and charitable clinics like CrossOver, accessing the antiviral medication Tamiflu is also a challenge because it is ite expensive.

A long winter ahead

Though Virginia has witnessed a small decrease in influenza and overall respiratory illness, that doesn't mean we’re out of the woods yet, according to Viray.

“It's still just as important that we continue to take precautions to prevent getting sick, because like we saw last year, was that we had a little bit of an increase when we went down again, then we went back up again,” Viray said.

“We need to get through the rest of the respiratory virus season. It's important to continue to take these precautions because we can't predict when we're going to see more activity. Right now, since we are seeing activity, it's especially important to continue with those precautions.”

People can help prevent transmission even when they are back to feeling better by wearing a mask for those first five or so days after they return to activity, she said, and by staying away from others and being careful with cough and hand hygiene to prevent transmission.

“I think we haven't seen anywhere near what we're going to continue to see,” Harris said. “Now that kids are back at school, I do believe that we're going to see an increased uptake in the few the next few weeks. Typically, we start to see it die down around mid-March.”

Dina Weinstein is the Citizen’s community vitality reporter and a Report for America corps member, covering housing, health and transportation. Support her work and articles like this one by making a contribution to the Citizen.