What's Going Around in Philadelphia?
Fast local read for Philadelphia, powered by Pennsylvania surveillance plus city context lower on the page — May 2026
Fast answer
What matters first in Philadelphia
For a quick "what illness, virus, or sickness is going around in Philadelphia?" check, start with rsv. It is high and similar to 4.9 per 100k last week in the best public signal we have for the Philadelphia area. This page gives the broad local read first, then lets you open the direct local answer pages that matter most.
Strongest current signal
RSV
4.5 per 100K
→ Stable — similar to 4.9 per 100K last week
Flu
Low, 0.9% ILI, similar to 1.0% last week
RSV
High, 4.5 per 100K, similar to 4.9 per 100K last week
COVID-19
Moderate, 2.5 per 100K, down from 3.1 per 100K last week
Measles
25 cases in 2026
Spread signal
Pennsylvania statewide surveillance
City context
CDC PLACES 2022
Best use
Fast local read before deeper charts
0.9% ILI
→ Stable — similar to 1.0% last week
→ Stable in Pennsylvania
4.5 per 100K
→ Stable — similar to 4.9 per 100K last week
↓ Declining in Pennsylvania
2.5 per 100K
↓ Decreasing — down from 3.1 per 100K last week
→ Stable in Pennsylvania
25 cases in 2026
92.4% in Pennsylvania
Prevention context, not a weekly spread signal.
Local tap water pilot
Water quality checks for Philadelphia
Open the official water report, service-line notes, and renter checklist for Philadelphia. This is separate from what is spreading this week, but it is useful local-health context when you are renting, traveling, or moving.
CDC Recommendations at This Level
RSV activity is elevated — extra care for vulnerable groups
- • Limit infants' exposure to crowds and sick contacts
- • Anyone with cold symptoms should avoid close contact with babies and elderly family members
- • Watch infants closely for breathing difficulties — RSV can get serious quickly in babies
- • Adults 60+ with chronic lung or heart disease should take extra precautions
- • Call your pediatrician if your baby is breathing rapidly, wheezing, or not feeding well
This is general public health guidance based on CDC recommendations — not personal medical advice. Talk to your healthcare provider about what's right for you and your family.
Useful questions
Questions that make the Philadelphia page easier to use
These are the pages that explain scope, sharing, and page choice without making the main city answer any noisier.
Trust Question
Why Does My City Page Use State Data?
A trust page that explains the scope of city pages clearly and routes people into the best city, state, and travel surfaces.
Sharing Question
What Page Should I Send Someone Who Asks What’s Going Around?
A utility page for sharing the right LHS link the first time instead of sending a random dashboard or article.
Routing Question
Should I Check the City or State Page First?
A product-utility page that reduces search friction and helps users choose the right level of page on the first try.
Source and context
Where this city page data comes from
Updated
May 29, 2026
Coverage
State-level disease surveillance plus slower city-level community context
Best For
Quick local infectious-disease orientation before deeper chart review
Use the top half of this page for what is spreading now in the Philadelphia area. The lower community-context section is older CDC PLACES data about respiratory burden and access to care, included to explain possible impact rather than current spread.
More Cities in Pennsylvania
Compare this snapshot with other major cities in Pennsylvania.
Frequently Asked Questions
What illnesses are going around in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania right now?
Based on the best current public-health signal for the Philadelphia area, flu activity in Pennsylvania is low, RSV is high, COVID-19 is moderate, and Pennsylvania has reported 25 measles cases in 2026. Click any topic above for the detailed page that matches the actual question.
Is the flu bad in Philadelphia right now?
Flu activity in Pennsylvania (which includes Philadelphia) is currently low with 0.9% ILI. Activity appears stable. See the Pennsylvania flu page for weekly trend charts.
Why does this page include city-level community context?
The lower community-context section does not show what is spreading this week. It uses CDC PLACES (2022 data) to show slower-moving local vulnerability and access-to-care patterns in Philadelphia, such as asthma burden or uninsured adults, so the infection data has clearer local context.
Does Philadelphia have its own health data, or is this state-level?
This page combines two types of public-health data. The infectious disease section (flu, COVID, RSV, measles) shows Pennsylvania state-level surveillance, which is the most reliable available indicator for the Philadelphia area right now. The lower community-context section adds slower Philadelphia-specific CDC PLACES estimates about respiratory vulnerability and access to care. State infectious disease data reflects overall trends that apply to communities within the state, including Philadelphia.
Local Health Signal is not affiliated with the CDC or any government agency. Data is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended for clinical decision making. See our methods page for details on data sources and limitations.