by Wen Tsui

SACRAMENTO, United States, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- A perfect storm of widespread viral infections and declining vaccination rates is straining U.S. hospitals to the brink in early 2025.

Healthcare workers are grappling with what experts are calling a "quad-demic" -- the simultaneous surges of COVID-19, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and a newly identified more severe strain of norovirus.

The viruses are spreading when vaccination rates have dropped to alarming lows. According to the latest report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released on Friday, only around 23 percent of adults had received the updated COVID-19 vaccine, while merely 43.9 percent had gotten a flu shot. The situation is particularly concerning for children, with 11.1 percent vaccinated against COVID-19 despite rising pediatric hospitalization rates.

"I worry we are not as ready as we should be, or were, going into this season ... because our vaccination rates for many of these diseases are very low," Dr. Scott Roberts, medical director at Yale New Haven Health, told ABC News.

Meanwhile, WIFR TV in Illinois reported Tuesday that local hospitals were forced to keep patients waiting for extended periods in their emergency departments while operating at nearly full capacity.

Compounding the crisis, a more aggressive strain of norovirus, known as GII.17, has emerged. Usually coming with stomach bug symptoms, this variant appears to cause more severe illness due to the population's limited immunity.

Previous numbers from the CDC showed that 91 norovirus outbreaks were reported during the week of Dec. 5, up from 69 outbreaks in the last week of November. No vaccine has been currently available to prevent the infection yet.

In California, the San Francisco Chronicle documented a staggering 458 percent increase in norovirus traces at one San Francisco wastewater facility, underscoring the pathogen's rapid spread.

High flu activity and rising COVID-19 hospitalizations among vulnerable populations exacerbated the strain on healthcare systems.

"The entire healthcare system can be impacted when you have high rates of all of these infections at the same time," Dr. Geeta Sood, hospital epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, told Health magazine.

Overburdened emergency rooms mean patients often wait hours or even overnight before getting admitted.

Matthew Sims, director of infectious disease research for Corewell Health, a healthcare system located in Michigan, reported a steady flow of patients requiring hospitalization for influenza and COVID-19. "We are seeing patients who are having to wait before they can get transferred to a room," he told ABC News.

Many hospitals have introduced stricter rules to control the spread. Some facilities now bar young visitors from patient care areas and require masks. "Children can often carry viruses and not be as symptomatic as adults," said David Priest at Novant Health, explaining the decision to restrict visitors under the age of 13.

Staffing woes further complicate matters. "Staff callouts, staff shortages, community respiratory viral test positivity rates, and overall hospital census" continue to weigh on Yale New Haven Health administrators, said Dr. Roberts.

Nationwide, emergency department visits are high for diagnosed influenza and RSV, while COVID-19 visits remain "elevated." Current test positivity rates underscored the severity: 18.8 percent for influenza, 8.9 percent for RSV and 6.6 percent for COVID-19.

Last Wednesday, a Xinhua reporter observed an overflowing emergency room at El Camino Hospital in Mountain View, California, in the heart of Silicon Valley. With limited beds available, patients sometimes waited overnight before being transferred to a hospital room.

Healthcare experts warn that the crisis would likely worsen without immediate public action. "As we enter the peak season for respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses, our communities are seeing a significant uptick of flu, RSV, COVID-19, and norovirus cases," said Paula Newman, manager of Infection Prevention at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Stockton, California. Enditem

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