Cases of influenza rising in the Hastings Prince Edward region

While reported high-risk cases of COVID-19 have been declining across the Hastings Prince Edward region, rising cases of influenza and RSV have been putting a significant strain on local hospitals.

According to the Hastings Prince Edward Public health respiratory infection update, influenza activity in the region is currently high. On Tuesday, HPEPH reported 18 new cases of Influenza A with 29 active cases of the virus in the community. One lab-confirmed case of Influenza B was also reported—the first in the region for this respiratory virus season.

One institutional outbreak of influenza was also reported by HPEHP, and one additional outbreak of an unknown or other respiratory virus.

The combined rise of influenza and RSV in addition to the existing COVID -19 pandemic is testing the capacity of hospitals.

Currently, emergency department visits for influenza-like illness make up almost 5% of total visits to the ED. In a media call last week, Quinte Health President and CEO Stacey Daub said that hospitals in the Quinte Region were at 135% medicine occupancy with a 40% significant jump in emergency department visits for young children.

Medical officer of health for HPEPH Ethan Toumishey said that the level respiratory viruses in the community are double the expected amount.

“We're seeing the combined effect of multiple respiratory viruses affecting the community, and COVID-19 is one of them, but we are also seeing the impact of RSV and particularly the increasing impact of influenza,” Toumishey said in an interview with the Belleville Intelligencer. “The proportion of those who are coming in with respiratory symptoms—cough, fever—is twice the average that we would see from a historical perspective.”

According to Toumishey, children are particularly vulnerable to both RSV and Influenza, especially children who have not previously been exposed to these viruses.

“RSV is a very common virus that circulates in the community, but it's when people are first exposed before they start to build up immunity where they can be more severely affected and require hospitalization,” he said.

With such high levels of respiratory viruses circulating, HPEPH is strongly urging multiple layers of infection prevention including asking everyone to get both the influenza vaccine and ensure they receive all recommended doses of the COVID -19 vaccine and to implement measures like masking, hand washing, and staying home when ill.

“It's really important to stay up to date on your COVID shots, and also really important to get the flu shot. We know that people haven't seen the flu for a couple of years because of the pandemic, but it is as important as ever and it's not too late to get the shot. Combining these protections with staying home when sick, checking for symptoms, and masking in indoor spaces, will really reduce your risk. It's just adding up all these skills we've built up over the last few years to keep everyone as safe as possible,” he said.