OTTAWA — Canada’s flu season has taken a sharp and early turn, with health officials reporting a rapid spike in laboratory-confirmed detections and hospitalizations that are placing immense pressure on the country’s healthcare systems.
According to the latest federal “FluWatch” data for the week ending December 6, 2025, the national influenza positivity rate has climbed to 20.1%. This represents a significant jump from earlier in the season and indicates that the virus is now circulating at high levels from coast to coast.
Children and Seniors Most Affected
The current surge is being driven predominantly by Influenza A(H3N2), a strain historically associated with more severe seasons and higher rates of hospitalization.
Data shows a stark impact on the younger population:
- Youth Impact: Individuals aged 19 and under account for nearly 44% of all subtyped H3N2 detections. Pediatric hospitals in Ontario and Quebec have reported a “flood” of young patients, with some facilities seeing eight times the number of positive tests compared to the same period last year.
- Seniors at Risk: While children are driving the spread, the elderly remain highly vulnerable to severe outcomes. Public health officials noted that while H3N2 is hitting kids, the H1N1 strain is also circulating, primarily affecting those aged 65 and older.
Hospitals Under Strain
The “synchronized” geographic spread of the virus means that almost every province and territory is reporting sustained increases in activity simultaneously. Alberta has been particularly hard hit, with emergency rooms in Calgary and Edmonton reportedly “crushed” by a wave of respiratory patients.
Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease specialist, noted that Canada’s current experience mirrors the severe flu seasons recently seen in the Southern Hemisphere, specifically Australia. “They had two difficult seasons in a row,” Bogoch said. “We may be in for a tough flu season.”
Concerns Over Vaccine Mismatch
Medical experts are also closely monitoring the effectiveness of this year’s vaccine. There are growing concerns that the dominant H3N2 strain may have mutated slightly, creating a “mismatch” with the current flu shot.
Despite these concerns, Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) officials and frontline doctors continue to urge Canadians to get vaccinated. They emphasize that even if the vaccine does not prevent infection entirely, it remains the most effective tool for preventing ICU admissions and death.
Looking Ahead
With the winter holidays approaching, health officials are bracing for further transmission as families gather indoors. Common symptoms being reported include high fevers, coughs, and body aches. Experts recommend staying home if symptomatic and booking vaccination appointments immediately to help blunt the peak of the epidemic.
