CDC: Idaho Is On The Verge Of A Dangerous “Quad-Demic”

Idaho is starting 2025 in an unenviable position. With illness on the rise and hospitals filling up, we're not hearing much about it.

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According to ABC News, Idaho is one of 33 states that is in the middle of a "quad-demic." It's the perfect storm of four different respiratory conditions spiking simultaneously. Influenza A, RSV, COVID, and neurovirus are all making an impact on the state.

Axios reports that it's been a slow start to the flu season and that health officials expected to see a peak on January 1st. Yet, it seems like we're just getting started. The CDC says that Idaho is currently in the "High" range when it comes to ILI, which means a respiratory illness with a fever plus a cough or sore throat. Meanwhile, Utah, Wyoming, and Montana are in much better shape.

So, how prepared is Idaho for the outbreak of illness we're experiencing? The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare hasn't updated the influenza page on its website since 2022. They haven't released statistics on their website since the 2022-2023 season. Hopefully, their response execution is better than their attention to detail online.

Across the country, influenza cases are up nearly 20%, most of which are influenza A. The trend also shows a 1.5% growth in deaths attributed to the virus.

As these four illnesses begin to peak, the CDC is concerned about the worst-case scenario for states like Idaho, which is already in the "high" category for ILI. HPMV, human metapneumovirus, is suddenly on the rise. After spreading fast and furious in China, it is now spreading in the United States. No one believes this will have the same impact that COVID-19 had in 2020, but because Idaho is already dealing with a high level of other respiratory viruses, health officials are worried that an HPMV outbreak could push the system past the brink.