Health IQ: Flu cases are surging, travel vaccines getting missed

Minggu, 21 Desember 2025

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Flu hospitalizations surging with H3N2 strain dominating infections

A new strain of H3N2 influenza is landing a growing number of Canadians in hospital with cases surging around the country. All indicators of influenza activity are increasing quickly, with all regions throughout the country reporting growing influenza activity, Health Canada said.

In the first week of December alone, Canada saw 6,799 cases of the flu detected, with 91 outbreaks across the country. The number of positive tests rose 20.2 per cent compared with the week before. More Canadians landed in hospital that week, with 3.6 hospitalizations per 100,000 of population.

The dominant strain being observed in Canada and the United States is the influenza A(H3N2) strain, including a subvariant — A(H3N2) subclade K — the World Health Organization said. In Ottawa, three children between the ages of five and nine have died from influenza A-related complications, with the city's health officials urging anyone over the age of six months to get vaccinated.

"Now one in five of all tests that are being done are positive. So that suggests we're right in the midst of that surge. That number could go higher," said Dr. Fahad Razak, internal medicine physician and professor at the University of Toronto.

The surge comes as Canadians are looking to travel to be with family and loved ones for the holidays. Doctors said it is not too late to book a flu shot, and it could be the ticket to keeping you out of the hospital should you get sick.

Read more about how to protect yourself, and what this year’s flu season could look like.

Health Canada targets illegal drug chemicals, equipment

Health Canada is introducing new regulations targeting chemicals and equipment used to manufacture illegal synthetic drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine. The amended rules require licensed companies to take preventative measures against chemicals being redirected to unauthorized channels, as well as report all suspicious transactions.

The agency is also expanding the conditions for all sales of health products containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine to further minimize illegal market risks.

These oversight changes aim to disrupt the domestic production of dangerous controlled substances across the country.

Health Canada is also decreasing the availability of drug manufacturing equipment such as pill presses and by requiring import registration for certain component parts.

A summary of the new regulations said most of the overdose deaths in Canada involve illegally produced fentanyl, and that police have noticed an increase in illegal domestic production as well as the illegal importation and diversion of chemical ingredients and equipment.

Read more about the regulations and how they hope to disrupt domestic drug production.

— THE TOPIC —

Travelling abroad?
Doctors say: check your travel vaccines are up to date

Before you pull out the suitcase or confirm a hotel, Vancouver Infectious Diseases Center medical director Dr. Brian Conways said every person should double check their vaccines are up to date before they travel.

“People think about it a little bit too late,” Conway said. “When they consult, they’re told, well, you should have come a few weeks ago, and now we’re going to potentially have to wing it.”

Federal data analyzed by Rexall Pharmacy Group indicates four in five Canadian travelers skipped travel vaccines before their most recent trip.

“Whether it’s travel to Southeast Asia, so places like Thailand, Vietnam, vaccines like your Hepatitis A might be required or typhoid, depending on which countries you’re going to as well, like Japanese encephalitis might be another one that is required,” said pharmacist Heidi Wittke from Rexall Pharmacy Group.

Where you are going will dictate the vaccines that are needed, and doctors said some shots must be administered weeks in advance.

Travel vaccines are a detail that if overlooked could send a person packing.

“If it is required, in some cases, you will just be denied entry to that country, and it really is black and white. They look for your certificate. If you don’t have it, then you’re going home,” Conway said. “So, preparing ahead of time is really the key.”

While holiday travel for December and January is top of mind for many, doctors say spring break is not that far away, and you if plan on going abroad, now is the time to check with a pharmacist or travel clinic to see if any vaccines are needed.