Health Canada reports that flu activity remains at levels above what is typically expected for this time of year. The latest national flu report is for the week ending December 3, 2022. It shows that of the roughly 9,800 laboratory-confirmed cases of flu, the vast majority were the influenza A strain. 41 percent of detections in week 48 were among people age 19 and younger. That’s down slightly from 45 percent the previous week. For the flu season that begins Aug. 28 — weeks 35 through 48 — 292 laboratory-confirmed flu cases have been reported nationwide. Influenza hospitalizations remain elevated across the country with the highest cumulative hospitalization rates among children under five and adults over 65. It’s been a tough flu season across the province, but it doesn’t look like the number of cases will start to drop just yet. This is according to the health’s chief medical officer, Dr Janice Fitzgerald. He says there has been an increase in flu cases recently, and based on trends across the country he believes there is still a ways to go before the province reaches the peak of the season. Fitzgerald explains there is some evidence to suggest other jurisdictions are starting to turn the corner, but she believes this province still has a ways to go.
