Children under five face second-highest hospitalization rates as flu cases surge to 28% positivity nationwide
OTTAWA — With Christmas just two days away, Ottawa hospitals are buckling under an unusually severe flu season that has arrived earlier and struck harder than any post-pandemic year, leaving families scrambling and emergency departments overflowing.
The Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario is treating more than 200 patients daily in its emergency department, with numbers spiking to 261 on a single day last week. The surge reflects a broader crisis across Ottawa’s hospital network as influenza cases overwhelm medical facilities.
“Unfortunately, we’ve seen some deaths in the area, and we’ve seen an overwhelming number of hospital visits and hospitalizations, not just at CHEO, but at hospitals throughout the Ottawa region,” said Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, medical officer of health for the Eastern Ontario Health Unit.
Health Canada reports flu activity is rising sharply nationwide, with nearly 28 per cent of tests returning positive results—the highest rate recorded in the post-pandemic period.
Young children are bearing the brunt of this year’s outbreak. Health Canada data shows children under five now have the second-highest flu hospitalization rate in the country, trailing only seniors aged 65 and older.
Sarah Farhat watched helplessly as both her young children and immunocompromised husband fell ill simultaneously. “It’s been rough,” she said. “The kids lost about five days of school, and my husband was home for three days as well.”
Her family experienced severe symptoms. “We started off with croup symptoms, the barking cough, the headaches, the nausea, they all had fevers of 103 degrees,” Farhat said. With two days until Christmas, she says things are finally back to normal.
The dominant flu strain circulating this season spreads more easily and is associated with higher hospitalization rates than previous variants, according to Health Canada. This explains both the rapid transmission and the severity of symptoms families are experiencing.
Doctors warn the worst may still lie ahead. Flu activity is expected to peak one to two weeks after Christmas and continue into the new year, meaning hospitals will face sustained pressure through January.
Medical professionals continue urging vaccination, emphasizing it’s not too late to get protected. “Even now, it will give you protection,” Roumeliotis said. “It doesn’t work right away, it takes seven to ten days, but as your immunity builds, you’ll be more protected.”
With holiday gatherings approaching, some residents say protecting vulnerable loved ones is paramount. “I have a 90-year-old mother-in-law who lives with us, so we are sort of trying to keep her safe as possible as well, but she got her flu shot,” said shopper Carla Van Delen.
Parents should seek urgent medical care for children under five showing signs of difficulty breathing or dehydration, such as refusing fluids, doctors advise. These symptoms can escalate quickly in young children and require immediate attention.
Health Canada recommends staying home when sick, washing hands regularly, wearing masks around others if symptomatic, and cleaning high-touch surfaces and objects frequently.
As hospitals brace for continued pressure through the holidays and into January, doctors emphasize that prevention remains the best defense against a flu season that shows no signs of relenting.
