Category: Flu season

Why Is the World Witnessing an Unprecedented Breakout of Infections?

Even though many would like to declare the pandemic over, COVID-19 variants are still mutating and circulating globally. At the same time, while the virus is particularly disastrous for China, which is seeing abnormal spikes in infection numbers, several waves of viral infections are currently sweeping the world, including the flu, RSV, and other influenza-like…


Flu Season Has Peaked, Now Declining Sharply: PHAC Report

Canada’s flu season has peaked and is showing signs of being nearly over, according to the latest national FluWatch report released on Jan. 13. The report said that for the week of Jan.1 to Jan.7, influenza had “declined sharply” from the peak that occurred at the end of November 2022, and is now “below expected…


Flu Season Has Peaked, Now Declining Sharply: Public Health Agency

Canada’s flu season has peaked and is showing signs of being nearly over, according to the latest national FluWatch report released on Jan. 13. The report said that for the week of Jan.1 to Jan.7, influenza had “declined sharply” from the peak that occurred at the end of November 2022, and is now “below expected…


Alberta Will Manage Flu Season With ‘Longstanding Practices,’ Says New Top Doc in First Statement

In his first statement as Alberta’s new chief medical officer of health, Dr. Mark Joffe says the province will manage the annual flu season by transitioning “back to longstanding practices to manage respiratory infections.” Local public health officials will notify schools of outbreaks and provide support and advice as needed. “Winter is historically the peak season…


As Flu Season Starts, Problematic Drug Still Sold

It’s been more than 20 years since Tamiflu, the first orally active neuraminidase inhibitor to prevent and treat influenza A and B, was rolled out by drugmaker Roche. Not a flu vaccine, Tamiflu (oseltamivir) blocks the flu virus’s neuraminidase protein. The medication is available only by prescription and is often prescribed for people at high…


Influenza Cases Down by Over 40,000 Compared to Average Flu Season: PHAC

OTTAWA—The 2021 flu season will go down in history as the epidemic that never was. By this time of the year, Canada has normally logged an average of more than 43,000 confirmed cases of influenza. But this year, the Public Health Agency of Canada says there was a total of just 66 confirmed cases as…