Surging flu cases across Canada, especially among children, causing growing concern for health-care capacity | CBC

"Mutations to some H3N2 strains might be mismatched to the current flu vaccine, but doctors explain why it's still a good idea to get the shot. Health officials across the country are reporting a surge in cases of influenza this month, especially among children and youth. There's particular concern about low vaccination uptake this winter, with many provinces reporting only around 20 per cent of eligible residents have received the flu vaccine."

"That impact on children means pediatric hospitals across the country have been flooded with young patients and medical teams warn that emergency visits and admissions could keep climbing in the weeks ahead. At the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) in Ottawa, eight times more children tested positive for influenza in November compared with the same month in 2024, while double the number of children needed to be hospitalized. Most of those children hadn't had a seasonal flu vaccine, according to CHEO's emergency department."

A national surge in influenza cases is occurring this month, with children and youth especially affected. Vaccination uptake is low, with many provinces reporting only about 20 percent of eligible residents vaccinated. The available vaccine is not a strong match for the predominant H3N2 strain, yet medical professionals continue to recommend vaccination. Pediatric hospitals are experiencing large increases in patients; CHEO reported eight times more pediatric influenza positives in November and twice the hospitalizations compared with the same month in 2024. Most hospitalized children had not received the seasonal flu vaccine, and emergency visits may continue to rise.

Read at www.cbc.ca