Influenza surging nationally, Atlantic Canada bracing for more RSV cases: The latest on respiratory virus season for week of Feb. 10

Canada’s colder weather goes hand-in-hand with respiratory virus season, with flu, RSV and COVID-19 circulating. While Canadians learned a lot about how to protect themselves from illness during the height of the pandemic, new information released by health care practitioners can help inform decisions, including the availability of flu shots.

We’ll be publishing an update on respiratory virus season at the beginning of each week. Looking for more information on the topic that you don’t see here? E-mail audience@globeandmail.com to see if we can help you.

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The latest news:

• The spread of influenza across Canada is showing no signs of slowing down. Roughly 21 per cent of tests came back positive for flu in the final week of January, according to the latest data from the Public Health Agency of Canada’s respiratory virus surveillance report. The positivity rate for Week 5 is nearly double what was recorded a month earlier. Quebec has the highest positivity rate of 26.3 per cent followed by British Columbia at 25.1 per cent.
• An intense flu season in the U.S. led to school closings in some states last week, including in Texas, Oklahoma and Tennessee. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in its influenza surveillance report posted last Friday, said there have been at least 24 million illnesses, 310,000 hospitalizations and 13,000 deaths so far this season, 57 of which were among children. “Seasonal influenza activity remains elevated and continues to increase across the country,” the report said.

Outlook on RSV, COVID-19 and flu in Canada:

• Cases of respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, continued to dip across Canada in the final week of January. Nearly 7 per cent of tests came back positive, which was a slight dip from 8 per cent the week prior. Trends, however, vary by region. Atlantic Canada, for example, is one of the only areas with RSV cases trending upward with a positivity rate of 12.8 per cent, which is nearly double the Canadian average.
• COVID-19, too, is on the decline with a 5.4-per-cent positivity rate, compared with 5.9 per cent the week prior. Cases have been on the decline since last September when positivity peaked at 18.9 per cent.
• All but one province or territory – Newfoundland and Labrador – was spared from flu activity heading into February, according to PHAC. Nearly 8,600 influenza cases were detected in Week 5, largely among people who are 65 and older. Widespread activity was detected in Toronto, Centre-du-Québec and three regions of B.C.: Vancouver Coastal, Vancouver Island and Fraser.

Have we reached the peak for the common respiratory viruses this season?

Yes and no. Atlantic Canada is still bracing for cases to come to a head with RSV and influenza infections on the rise. Western provinces already reached a peak in December and early January but, after some reprieve, appear to be speeding toward another climax with flu as the driver.

Kirstin Weerdenburg, a pediatric emergency physician in Halifax, said she is “seeing a lot more” flu cases recently, including ones that are requiring admission to hospital. She said the emergency department and in-patient units have been very busy and, at times, reached capacity.

Meanwhile, Calgary-based pediatrician Sidd Thakore said the end of December was the breaking point for Alberta. But, with numbers increasing south of the border, he said it might not be long until the province reaches another peak, which is typical for flu season.

“Are we going to see that creep up here? Are we going to see the same pattern? And how high is it going to go? The next couple of weeks, we’ll get a better sense of which way it’s going,” said Dr. Thakore.

Hospitalizations for COVID-19, RSV and flu:

• There have been nearly 1,800 flu-related hospitalizations across Canada since last August, including 179 hospitalizations during the final week of January, according to PHAC. More than 140 cases have required admission into intensive-care units. Seventy-six deaths have been recorded so far this season.
• COVID-19 infections have sent roughly 4,200 people to hospital with 294 cases requiring intensive care. Since August, 854 people have died. Individuals 65 and older have accounted for 93 per cent of reported deaths. PHAC does not have any data on severe outcomes related to RSV for the 2024-25 season.

How to protect yourself and your loved ones from respiratory viruses:

• Respiratory viruses can spread from person to person or through contact with contaminated surfaces or objects, such as phones, door handles or elevator buttons. To protect yourself and others, Health Canada recommends wearing a well-fitted respirator or mask, getting vaccinated, washing your hands regularly, cleaning high-touch surfaces, improving indoor ventilation, and covering your mouth when sneezing or coughing. People are encouraged to stay home when sick.

Seasonal shots:

Flu and COVID-19 shots are available across the country. It is safe to receive both vaccines at the same time. Immunization information for all provinces and territories can be found here:

• Alberta
• British Columbia
• Manitoba
• Newfoundland
• New Brunswick
• Northwest Territories
• Nova Scotia
• Nunavut
• Ontario
• Prince Edward Island
• Quebec
• Saskatchewan
• Yukon