The Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) reported that three young children have died as a result of influenza A complications in the first two weeks of December.
The hospital said it is reporting a higher-than-usual number of flu cases for this time of year. The children who died were between the ages of five and nine, the press release reads. They died from complications related to the virus in the Ottawa and Eastern Ontario Health Unit.
“This is a stark reminder that the flu can lead to severe illness and complications that require hospital care. With much of the respiratory illness season still ahead, we anticipate this will continue to be a challenging flu season,” a joint statement from Dr. Trevor Arnason, Ottawa’s Medical Officer of Health, and Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, Medical Officer of Health of Eastern Ontario Health Unit, said.
The two top doctors in the region are “strongly urging” everyone six months and older to get their flu vaccine as soon as possible, especially to protect children from severe illnesses.
Vaccines are available at participating pharmacies, primary care offices and several walk-in services. Ottawa Public Health also runs a number of clinics throughout the region.
This comes after CHEO issued a statement Dec. 3, noting a significant increase in cases coming to the hospital in November. According to the release, staff saw eight times more children testing positive for influenza compared to the same month last year.
Double the number of children needed to be hospitalized with the flu, it reads. The hospital’s emergency department reported that most children seeking care had not had their seasonal flu vaccine.
“The flu is more than a bad cold. Children under five are at a higher risk of severe illness from influenza because they have smaller airways, and their immune systems are still developing,” CHEO said in the statement. “Even healthy kids can become seriously ill, and flu spreads quickly in schools and child-care settings.”
Vaccination reduces the risk of hospitalization and protects vulnerable people, it said, including infants too young to be vaccinated.
Cases of the flu rising across the country
The latest update from the Government of Canada, released Dec. 12 and covering data up to Dec. 6 (surveillance week 49), shows that 20.2 per cent of influenza tests were positive, marking a rising trend nationwide. Of the 6,799 laboratory‑confirmed detections that week, 99.2 per cent were Influenza A, with the A (H3N2) subtype dominating.
Between week 48 and 49 of reporting, cases of the flu have more than doubled.
Officials note that all indicators of influenza activity are increasing, with outbreaks and hospitalizations rising as families prepare for holiday gatherings. Health authorities are urging Canadians to remain vigilant, particularly seniors and children who are most affected by current strains.
Key findings
- Detections: 6,799 cases reported in week 49, with 6,746 identified as Influenza A.
- Subtype: 86 per cent of subtyped Influenza A detections were A(H3N2).
- Age groups: Individuals aged 65-plus accounted for the most detections overall, while children and youth (over 19 years) represented the highest proportion of A(H3N2) cases (44 per cent).
- Outbreaks: 91 outbreaks were confirmed in week 49, with numbers continuing to rise.
- Hospitalizations: The weekly rate reached 3.6 per 100,000 population, with a continued upward trend.
