Flu cases ‘increasing steeply,’ Public Health Agency of Canada reports – CBC

Rise in cases marks potentially early start to flu season

Nov 04, 2022

Flu cases in Canada are climbing, marking a potentially early start to the flu season, at the same time U.S. health officials are reporting hospitalization rates for the respiratory illness reached the highest point in a decade for this time of year.

“At the national level, influenza activity is increasing steeply,” according to Canada’s FluWatch report for the week ending Oct. 29.

Flu activity has crossed an epidemic threshold, with five per cent of all respiratory virus tests coming back positive. If it stays above this level and meets other criteria, the agency said it will declare an influenza epidemic nationally — something that typically happens in mid-November.

Separately on Friday, Public Health Ontario’s weekly report said seasonal influenza activity has started in that province. Parts of New Brunswick also have localized flu outbreaks, one step below the highest widespread level.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/flu-season-start-1.6641312