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New data shows that influenza cases are skyrocketing across the country, with hospitalizations likely to increase in the coming weeks.
Canada’s Public Health database shows 28 per cent of flu tests nationwide have come back positive, an increase of almost eight per cent from figures posted last week.
Public Health Ontario says there were 5,400 cases of influenza in the week ending Dec. 13, with about 35 per cent of tests coming back positive. The data showed that children aged 5 to 11 years had the highest number of infections at 73 percent.
The number of hospitalizations across the country has also increased sharply, nearly doubling in a week. In Ontario, fewer than 1,000 influenza-related hospitalizations were reported in the recent week, an increase of more than 400 from the previous week. Three children in the Ottawa area have also died from complications of influenza in the past two weeks.
Hospital emergency department volume for sick children has increased 50 per cent over the past two weeks, which a Toronto hospital spokesperson said is the highest level of volume anticipated for the respiratory illness season.
“This is a serious year,” said Dr. Michelle Murthy, Toronto’s medical officer of health. “Last year for influenza, we thought it was one of the worst flu seasons we’d seen in about 10 years. We’ve already surpassed last year in terms of hospitalizations for influenza.”
Infectious disease expert Dr. Isaac Bogoch says there are two reasons for the surge.
“When we think about influenza, it’s not just one virus. There are actually three circulating viruses, and when the dominant circulating virus is known as the H3N2 virus, it has a more significant influenza season at the population level,” he explains.
“And then the other reason is that the vaccine that we use to protect against influenza has three components. One of the problems this year is that the H3N2 component is not as protective as we would like.”
But, he adds, that doesn’t mean you should skip getting the flu vaccine altogether. In fact, experts believe that any protection is better than no protection.
“People under the age of four and over the age of 65 have the greatest risk factors for hospitalization,” Bogoch said. “And you’ll see the same graph year after year.”
The Public Health Agency of Canada says the flu is contagious one day before symptoms begin and about five days after, although children and people with weakened immune systems can remain contagious longer. The most infectious day is the third.
The federal agency says it’s best to stay home and avoid close contact for at least the first three days, and wait five days for overall recovery.
Mild flu symptoms may include fever, cough, muscle aches and pains, chills, fatigue, headache, sore throat, loss of appetite, and runny or stuffy nose. Some people, especially children, may have diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.
Flu symptoms are viral and do not require antibiotics. Saline wash can be used to clear a blocked nose. Over-the-counter medicine can be taken to reduce fever or pain, however, children under six years of age should not be given over-the-counter cough and flu medicine unless a health provider recommends it.
Files from The Canadian Press were used in this report