The flu season is well underway in Quebec. The number of cases has doubled in the past week, indicates the latest surveillance report from the National Institute of Public Health of Quebec (INSPQ) posted online on Tuesday. According to the Dr Gaston De Serres, physician-epidemiologist at the INSPQ, the peak of influenza should be reached around mid-May.
Quebec hospitals analyzed some 1,900 respiratory virus specimens from April 9 to 16. Of these, 11.6% tested positive for influenza A or influenza B, i.e. 219. During the previous week, the positivity rate was 6.9%, which brought the number of cases at 113.
“There’s a good chance we’ll hit the peak of the current outbreak in mid-May and then see the cases go down from there,” says Dr.r From Serres. When we see the cases and the rate of positivity go up, generally four or five weeks later, we arrive at the periods of strongest transmission. »
Bad news for hospitals hit by a sixth wave. Quebec had 2,281 hospitalizations linked to COVID-19 on Tuesday, an increase of 61 from the previous day.
“It is certain that the fact of having the flu while we are still with a high incidence of COVID, we are not very happy about that, remarks the Dr From Serres. It is expected that COVID cases will plateau soon, but I would say that in the next few weeks, this increase in influenza cases will add a burden at the hospital level that is absolutely not needed. »
In interview with The dutythe regional director of public health for Montreal, the DD Mylène Drouin, had stressed that the mask was an effective measure to limit the transmission of COVID-19, but also the flu virus.
The acting National Director of Public Health of Quebec, Dr.r Luc Boileau, must decide soon if the wearing of the mask will remain required in the interior places after the end of April.