Flu cases continue to rise, RSV and COVID rates decrease nationally: The latest on respiratory virus season for week of Feb. 3

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:

• Cases of influenza continue to soar across Canada, with widespread activity in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec, according to the latest data from the Public Health Agency of Canada’s respiratory virus surveillance report. The data, updated last Friday, shows the proportion of tests that came back positive for flu during the fourth week of January was 16.7 per cent, up from 13.6 per cent the prior week.
• Rising cases prompted the Government of the Northwest Territories to issue a public health advisory for the Dehcho region last Thursday. The chief public health officer, Kami Kandola, said 14 of 20 confirmed flu cases were from the Dehcho region over the past week and noted that “many more residents” have reported flu-like symptoms but were not tested. Prior to the spike, only two cases had been reported in the region this season.

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

• Rates of respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, and COVID-19 are decreasing nationally. The positivity rate for RSV was 8 per cent and COVID-19 was 5.9 per cent, based on the latest data that shows the viruses on a downward trend after higher case counts in December and early January. Atlantic Canada has the highest rate of RSV at 12.5 per cent, followed by B.C. at 10.1 per cent. Ontario continues to have the positivity rate for COVID-19 at 9.8 per cent.
• On the influenza front, outbreaks are on the rise across Canada but hospitalizations have been stable in recent weeks, according to PHAC. The territories (Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon) had the highest positivity rate at 27.5 per cent, following by B.C. at 20.6 per cent and Quebec at 18.6 per cent. Three regions had laboratory-confirmed cases and outbreaks that are equal to or greater than 50 per cent of the influenza surveillance region: Fraser, B.C.; Toronto, Ont.; and Centre-du-Québec, Que.

Hospitalizations for COVID-19, RSV and flu:

• There have been about 1,571 flu-related hospitalizations across Canada since last August, including 175 hospitalizations during the fourth week of January, according to PHAC. More than 120 cases have required admission into intensive care units. Sixty-five deaths have been recorded so far this season.
• COVID-19 infections have sent more than 4,100 people to hospital with about 280 cases requiring intensive care. Since August, 830 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.

Should I be worried about avian flu?

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The short answer: no, but with an asterisk.

Public health officials in Canada have stressed that the risk of infection to the general public is low and there is no current evidence of sustained transmission between humans. But, there are concerns that the risk to humans will increase as the virus mutates.

A 13-year-old girl from B.C. was the first – and remains the only – Canadian known to have acquired bird flu inside the country. She was discharged in early January after a two-month stay in hospital. Around the same time, the Louisiana Department of Health announced that a patient hospitalized with avian flu had died. It was the first death of its kind in the United States. The patient had underlying health conditions.

Most human cases are linked to exposure to dead or ill poultry, according to PHAC, but people can also fall ill after close contact with contaminated environments. Some symptoms associated with avian flu include a cough, fever, shortness of breath, jaundice, conjunctivitis and a sore throat.

To limit food-borne risks, it is recommended that people thoroughly cook their meat and eggs to kill potential viruses and bacteria, consume only milk products that have been pasteurized and follow safe food-handling practices, such as handwashing and avoiding cross contamination. An antiviral treatment is available for suspected or confirmed cases.

Where does Canada stand on vaccination, in humans and birds?

There are some countries that vaccinate poultry workers and domestic birds against avian flu. Canada is not one of them.

Health Canada, in a statement, confirmed there are no immediate plans to immunize the public, or people who come in close contact with birds, against avian flu. But PHAC has agreements in place with domestic and international manufacturers to produce vaccines if a pandemic occurs or “should there be significant human health risk due to a new strain of influenza.”

Three avian influenza vaccines are currently authorized by Health Canada, all of which would need updates to target the circulating strain.

As for birds, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, which responds to the detection of avian flu in domestic birds, said that the scale and duration of the current outbreak has prompted the agency to evaluate its current approach. Nearly 15 million birds have been ordered destroyed by the CFIA since 2022. Vaccination is among the agency’s considerations.

CFIA has established a task force, which includes veterinarians, academic and industry representatives, to evaluate whether a poultry vaccination program makes sense in Canada. No formal decision has been made, but two vaccines have been assessed by CFIA and can be used in the case of an emergency.

“The decision to vaccine, or not, includes considerations on vaccine availability, effectiveness for multiple species, logistics, surveillance, cost and trade implications,” said the agency in a statement.

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