Flu cases begin to rise across N.S.

CITYnews halifax / By Rachel Morgan

The rampant flu has been making headlines across British Columbia and Ontario, notably leading to the deaths of three children in the Ottawa area at the beginning of the month.

But the influenza virus typically makes its way east to west across Canada, and it has arrived and is peaking in the Maritimes.

Infectious disease specialist, Dr. Lisa Barrett, said on the Todd Veinotte Show that across Canada prior to the holiday break, approximately one in five tests for influenza were positive, but that the rate of increase is going up each week.

According to the Government of Nova Scotia Department Health and Wellness respiratory surveillance database, there were 115 confirmed new cases of influenza for the week ending Dec. 13, the most recent numbers reported before the holiday break. That is more than double the number of cases reported during the same week in 2024.

“We often say the words cold and flu like they’re the same thing, they’re not the same thing,” Dr. Barrett said, noting that the flu is serious and cases are ramping up.

The dominant strain of influenza this year is a subtype of the H3N2 virus which Dr. Barrett said infectious disease specialists are still studying.

But while many have said the vaccine misses the mark this year on the dominant strain, she stays it is still very important that people get vaccinated.

“A vaccine still prevents disease, even when it is a mismatch, better than not having it at all,” she said, noting that even if you are not worried about your own health it is best to protect those more at risk.

Since COVID-19, vaccine hesitancy has been increasing but Dr. Barrett encourages everyone to seek out reputable information.

Vaccines are not a black and white issue, she said, encouraging everyone to avoid information that one lists the positives or only lists negative information.

“You need a balanced approach,” Dr Barrett said. “Go look for something that doesn’t just support what you think, go look for the opposite, because that’s what scientists do. I go out and i don’t try to prove myself, I try and disprove myself.”

Vaccines are still available free of charge at your local pharmacy.