An early onset of the flu season in Canada is disproportionately affecting children, leading to a surge in young patients admitted to several pediatric hospitals. Health care teams are cautioning that emergency visits and hospitalizations may continue to rise in the upcoming weeks.
In November, the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) in Ottawa reported a significant increase in the number of children testing positive for influenza compared to the same period in 2024. Additionally, the hospital witnessed a doubled rate of pediatric hospitalizations, with most of the affected children not having received the seasonal flu vaccine.
CHEO experienced an unprecedented influx of nearly 300 young patients in a single day, representing a 20% surge from the previous year, according to Karen Macauley, the vice-president of acute care services at CHEO. The escalating patient volumes have strained the hospital’s capacity, necessitating the utilization of overflow spaces for patient care. Public health projections indicate that the peak of the flu season is anticipated to occur later in December.
Similar spikes in flu-related patients are being observed at children’s hospitals in Ontario and Quebec, with medical facilities bracing for a challenging period ahead. Dr. Harley Eisman, the medical director of the division of pediatric emergency medicine at the Montreal Children’s Hospital, noted a drastic increase in patient visits, with over 200 patients seeking care daily.
At the St. Joseph’s Health Centre Just for Kids Clinic in Toronto, an uptick in children presenting with flu-like symptoms has been noted. Dr. Anne Wormsbecker, the clinic’s chief of pediatrics, emphasized the importance of scheduling flu vaccination appointments for the entire family, especially with the approaching winter holidays.
Recent data from pediatric hospitals nationwide reveals an 8% rise in positive flu tests among children from mid to late November. The Surveillance Program for the Rapid Identification and Tracking of Infectious Diseases in Kids indicates that influenza A is now more prevalent among children and adolescents compared to other respiratory infections.
Experts have anticipated a severe flu season due to the global spread of the H3N2 influenza A strain, which is associated with increased hospitalizations. Recent mutations in the strain may pose challenges for this year’s flu vaccine effectiveness. H3N2 is currently the most frequently reported subtype of influenza across Canada, with a notable increase in positive flu cases across all age groups.
Despite concerns about potential vaccine mismatches, Dr. Srinivas Murthy, a researcher and pediatric intensive care physician at B.C. Children’s Hospital, highlighted the vaccine’s significant protection against severe flu-related illnesses. Health officials foresee a possible nationwide surge in flu cases in the coming weeks, emphasizing the importance of vaccination to mitigate the impact of the flu season.
Health authorities in other Northern Hemisphere countries are also preparing for a surge in flu cases. Reports from the U.K. and the U.S. indicate a rise in flu activity, with the H3N2 strain posing a particular threat to older adults as the flu season progresses.