Ottawa / Toronto:Health officials in Canada are raising serious concerns as influenza infections surge among school-aged children, following the recent deaths of three children in Ontario linked to flu complications. The children, aged between five and nine, all lived in the Ottawa area, according to Ottawa Public Health and the Eastern Ontario Health Unit.
Medical authorities described the situation as unusual due to the number of pediatric deaths occurring within a short period. Dr. Trevor Arnason, Ottawa’s medical officer of health, stated that while influenza-related child deaths occur every year, the current spike is alarming.
Federal surveillance data shows more than 20 per cent of influenza tests nationwide are now positive, with the highest detection rates among individuals aged 19 and under. Health experts attribute the surge largely to the spread of the H3N2 strain, which is often associated with more severe flu seasons.
Pediatrician and researcher Dr. Jesse Papenburg from Montreal Children’s Hospital explained that many children may have little or no prior exposure to H3N2, increasing their vulnerability. He warned that high circulation of the virus among school-aged children raises the risk of serious complications.
Despite mutations in the dominant strain, experts emphasize that the flu vaccine remains effective in preventing severe illness, particularly in children. According to the World Health Organization, the current flu shot can reduce hospital visits by up to 75 per cent among children aged two to 17.
Health officials are urging families to ensure children and teens are vaccinated, stressing that it is not too late to get the flu shot as Canada braces for a broader wave of infections across all age groups.
