The flu is on the rise in Canada as another respiratory virus that struck young children begins to wane, Canada’s top public health official said.
Dr. Theresa Tam told a briefing in Ottawa on Friday that after last week’s update, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity has leveled off somewhat and is likely to remain elevated for weeks.
“Influenza is currently showing a sharp increase in activity, with most surveillance indicators increasing and all exceeding expected levels for this time of year,” Tam said.
Both RSV and the flu are believed to be more prevalent after more than two years of precautions such as physical distancing and masking during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic were lifted.
“We’ve actually had very few flu reports in the last two-plus years, so I think that’s partly why,” Tam said. The flu is increasing more dramatically than “what we’ve seen in most of the past seasons that I know of.”
Children’s medicines on the way
Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos also said on Friday that an additional 500,000 units of children’s painkillers imported from Australia were expected for hospital pharmacies in the next few weeks.
That’s in addition to the previously announced one million units of the drug, sold under the brand names Tylenol and Advil, now hitting the shelves of community pharmacies, he said.
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“In some places, the shelves are already showing these received units,” Duclos told reporters. “We expect that within the next week the availability of these doses will be quite clear on the shelves of community pharmacies across the country.”
Domestic production of pain relievers for young children is also responding to increased demand, Duclos said.
Children’s hospitals are overcrowded
Children’s hospitals across the country are overwhelmed with admissions from a combination of RSV, influenza and COVID-19, which is also contributing to staff shortages, long waits in emergency rooms and for beds, and cancellations of scheduled surgeries in some locations.
As families make vacation plans, Tam reminded people that flu shots are available nationwide for these six months and beyond.
Habits such as hand washing, covering coughs and sneezes, and wearing a mask reduce the chance of contracting a respiratory virus such as influenza, RSV, and the virus that causes COVID-19. Health officials say that’s especially important given the extremely stretched health care system, including pediatric hospitals.
In Friday, Quebec announced will expand free flu shots to everyone. Until now, it was the only Canadian province that did not regularly offer the vaccine for free to all its residents.
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