You may be noticing some of your co-workers or classmates sniffling more as of late.
It is the peak of the flu season, and it’s taking its toll with more influenza hospitalizations being seen in Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health’s catchment area.
According to data provided through the Ministry of Health, there were about 18 people in hospital throughout the area as of Feb. 8 with an infection.
It’s the highest the number has been since Nov. 2022, when the ministry started tracking non-COVID hospitalizations in this manner.
In fact, the number of hospitalizations for influenza overtook COVID hospitalizations locally in January. And the number saw a “fairly sharp rise” as of late.
“(It) has decreased over the past two weeks,” said Danny Williamson, a spokesman for the public health unit.
He contends while the number may seem drastically higher now, the average hospitalizations this season has been lower than the last two seasons.
“The overall numbers this year are in the range of the overall totals in those years,” he said.
Wastewater data also shows a rise in Influenza A in Guelph over the last month, which could signal possible higher rates “of infection and transmission of that virus in the population relative to other times in the year.”
Williamson said we’re not at the end of the respiratory season, and while the flu is still around, so are other viruses like COVID and RSV.
“It’s really important that people get vaccinated, it’s really important to stay home if you’re sick,” he said.
“It’s really important for people who are at higher risk, make sure they’re in contact with their primary care provider if they need to.”