NB breaks record for flu cases and hospitalizations as RSV and COVID-19 cases rise

New Brunswick had an all-time high of 836 confirmed flu cases in one week and 115 hospitalizations, nearly double the previous record, the acting chief medical officer of health said.

About 17% of those hospitalized were children and young people, Dr. Yves Léger told reporters on Tuesday, a figure he described as “perhaps a little higher” than in previous years.

Since the start of the 2022-23 flu season on Aug. 28, a total of 61 young people under the age of 20 have been hospitalized in New Brunswick, Leger revealed during a briefing on respiratory illnesses. The majority of them are less than 10 years old.

Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, which infects the lungs and airways, also continues to “circulate widely,” while the number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations have increased in recent weeks, Leger said.

The situation has deteriorated since his last press conference on November 18, when he urged New Brunswickers to help change the “worrying” course from the triple threat of respiratory viruses by taking protective measures, such as wearing a mask indoors, limiting social contact and staying home when sick.

The “call to action” didn’t help

The simultaneous activity of these viruses puts additional pressure on overburdened hospitals and impacts the education system and workplaces due to high absence rates, he said.

Leger had hoped sharing his concerns last month “would serve as a call to action.”

But “that concern remains now more than ever,” he said, particularly as holiday gatherings approach.

Leger warned that he expects to see an increase in respiratory virus activity in the province after the holidays, “unless we all embrace many of these [protective] strategies.”

3-fold increase in the number of pediatric patients

As things stand, Horizon Health Network is facing the earliest and most aggressive start to the flu season it has ever seen, said vice president of clinical operations Greg Doiron.

He participated in the information session along with Sharon Smyth-Okana, vice-president of clinical services at Vitalité Health Network.

Horizon hospitals are all reporting occupancy rates above 95%, including pediatric units and intensive care units, Doiron said. Emergency departments are seeing a high number of patients with symptoms of serious respiratory illnesses, he said.

“I know some of our pediatricians are reporting a threefold increase in the number of pediatric patients with upper and lower respiratory tract infections, and they are seeing sicker patients than they have been in the past.”

Doiron and Smyth-Okana both urged people to consider other resources for non-emergency medical needs, such as after-hours clinics and pharmacists, and to take steps to protect themselves and others. .

Not ready to recommend mandates

CBC asked Leger why he doesn’t recommend the government impose some mandatory protective measures ahead of the holidays. He said it’s something public health continues to “discuss and review.”

“These are measures that… take away people’s freedom to make decisions for themselves, so they are certainly not taken lightly. And there are a number of factors that need to be carefully weighed before taking these decisions.

“We don’t feel like we’re there yet. But certainly, if we feel that we will eventually get there, we will certainly ensure that it is communicated to New Brunswickers.

RSV cases jump 602%

RSV is not a reportable disease in New Brunswick, but the number of laboratory-confirmed cases jumped 602% in three weeks, according to the latest figures released by the Public Health Agency of Canada.

A total of 316 New Brunswickers have tested positive for the virus, as of December 3 instead of 45, on November 12.

By comparison, at the same time last year, New Brunswick had 72 cases, according to the national respiratory virus report.

RSV can lead to serious infection in some people, including infants, the elderly, adults with heart or lung disease, or weakened immune systems.

Although RSV cases continue to rise, the positivity rate appears to have leveled off, “which may indicate some stability,” Leger said.

“Stable does not mean weak,” he added.

COVID kills 7 more

COVID has killed seven more New Brunswickers last week, according to Tuesday’s COVIDWatch report.

Forty people are currently hospitalized with the virus, according to the province, while the two regional health authorities say they have 130 people hospitalized for or with COVID, including six in intensive care.

A total of 1,247 new COVID cases have been reported, including 819 lab-confirmed cases and 428 self-reported cases from people who tested positive in a rapid test.

6 more flu deaths

The flu killed six more New Bunswickers between Nov. 27 and Dec. 3, increasing the total number of deaths so far this season at 20the latest flu report, released on Tuesday, shows this.

The victims are between 30 and 90 years old, according to the Ministry of Health. They died between October 20 and November 28, spokesman Adam Bowie said.

No other details about the victims, such as underlying health conditions or their vaccination status, have been released.

The number of flu deaths in the province last season was five.

The 836 lab-confirmed cases reported in the week in question, called week 48, are the highest on record since the province began reporting the flu 17 years ago, Leger told reporters.

The previous record was in the 2009-10 season, when 712 cases were confirmed, according to the department.

A total of 1,811 positive cases have now been reported this season, although the true number is likely to be much higher as most people do not get tested for the flu. They just stay home.

The 115 flu hospitalizations are nearly double the previous record of 69 recorded in the province in January 2019, Leger said. Most involve people 65 and older, he said. The total number of hospitalizations for the season so far is 350.

He noted that the province was doing “much more testing” than in previous years. “These additional tests could explain some of the increase in cases or even hospitalizations that may have been missed in previous years,” he said.

“Nevertheless, an increase in respiratory virus activity was expected this year, which is partly reflected in these tests.”

The test positivity rate also continues to rise, he said, but remains below the all-time high.

Flu shots are still 10% lower than last year

As of December 12, a total of 196,976 flu shots had been administered, according to the Department of Health. This is a decrease of about 10% compared to the 219,475 vaccines administered at the same time last year.

“It is important to note that flu vaccinations started a week earlier last season, and some changes to the reporting process for pharmacies and primary care providers may contribute to a delay in reporting this data. the department spokesperson said in an emailed statement. .

In British Columbia, where six children died after contracting the flu this fall, the government launched a flu vaccination blitz last Friday. It opened walk-in clinics across the province for all residents ages six months and older throughout the weekend.

When asked why New Brunswick doesn’t offer something similar, Leger didn’t answer directly, but said lower-than-normal vaccination rates were a concern.

“We want to convey this and emphasize the importance of obtaining [the] flu vaccine,” he said, noting that there are doses and clinics available.

“We plan to increase our messages around our campaign to encourage people to do so,” he added, without providing details.

Of the injections given so far, around 8,164 have been for children aged six months to eight years and 7,814 for young people between the ages of nine and 18.

A total of 83,317 injections were given to people aged 19 to 64, and about 97,681 were given to people aged 65 or older.

The flu vaccine is recommended for all New Brunswickers six months and older, with a higher dose offered to those 65 and older.

The seasonal flu vaccine is available free of charge from various vaccine providers, including participating pharmacies and Public health clinics.

May hold a public update in the future

When asked why he didn’t hold a press conference for the public to watch instead of a press briefing, Leger said he felt press briefings were “very effective” in conveying information to New Brunswickers.

“But certainly [it’s] something we will look into in the future,” he said.

It has been months since Public Health held a public update.

The opposition has repeatedly called for a public update. Last month, Liberal health critic Rob McKee, Leader of the Official Opposition, alleged that Léger was “muzzled” by the Higgs government.

On Tuesday, Leger denied that the government has any influence over the timing of its updates and whether they are available to the public.

“I’ve always been committed to making sure I reached out to New Brunswickers when there were important messages to share,” he said.

“I remain committed to doing this and will continue to do so and I feel I am fully capable of making these decisions on my own, within the framework of public health.”