Quebec health officials are reporting there are more than double the number of influenza cases in the province so far this year than during the same period last year.
“This is a busy flu season,” said Dr. Harley Eisman, head of the MUHC’s pediatric emergency services. “We are overloaded.”
In general, the two major strains of the flu, A and B, strike in consecutive waves. But doctors told Global News that this year those strains are hitting at exactly the same period.
Get weekly health news
“We pretty much have both peaking around the same time,” said Dr. Paul Saba, a Lachine physician.
- ‘Maddening’: Family of Winnipeg woman who died after lengthy hospital wait calls for change
- Saskatchewan health-care workers vote 99% in favour of job action: CUPE
- Patients face challenges when seeking medical care not offered in Nova Scotia: audit
- Nova Scotia aims to reduce mammogram wait times, enhance women’s health care
-
![]()
Reasearchers watch closely as the latest strain of the flu virus makes its way to Canada for the upcoming respiratory virus season -
![]()
Nova Scotia unveils initatives to improve women’s health care -
![]()
EPA shortage leaves N.S. student attending school only part time -
![]()
Endometrial cancer awareness campaign kicks off, doctors say more education needed
What’s more, according to federal health officials, in the past week Montreal has fit into one of only a few areas where influenza is considered “widespread” — the most prevalent of four categories where data is available.
Both Saba and Eisman strongly encouraged people to get flu shots. To prevent spreading the virus, Saba also suggested wearing facemasks and using hand sanitizer and to consider Tamiflu as a remedy if the illness is detected early enough.
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.