Flu-related deaths spike in Manitoba, nearly doubling over previous week

The number of deaths being attributed to influenza in Manitoba has spiked, according tothe province's latestrespiratory virus surveillance report.

The most recent report, covering the week of Dec. 4-10, says there have now been 22 flu-related deaths. That's nearly double the 12 reported a week earlier.

The report notes that flu case countscontinue to belower than expected, due to "an influx of influenza laboratory reports this respiratory season" that's causingdelays in documentinglaboratory results.

Despite that, the total number of influenza A casesthis flu season also soared in the latest report. It'snow up to 1,701, up from 989 in the previous week's report.

Flu-related hospital admissions also jumped in the latest reporting week, to 331 from 171 the prior week. Six of the most recent patients were admitted to intensive care units.

Children under the age of five are at the highest risk for influenza infection, accounting for 12 per cent of all influenza cases and 20 per cent of the hospital admissions, the weekly surveillance report states.

Nationally, activity involving influenza A the predominant strain circulating has shownsigns of a decrease in the last two weeks. However, Manitoba's flu test positivityrate increased to27.2 per cent in the current reporting period, from19.5 per cent for the Nov. 27 to Dec. 3 period.

The test positivity rate nationally is21.5 per cent.

Other respiratory virusesalso continue to circulate, with 82 respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases recorded in the week, a slight bump in the 80 reported the previous week.

COVID-19 activity continues to decrease

Meanwhile, COVID-19 activity decreased for another week, with the test positivity rate falling to 11.4 per cent between Dec. 410. That's down from 14.5 per cent the prior week (and 15.4 per cent the week before that).

"Laboratory detection is substantively lower compared to the same time period in the previous two years," the report states.

There were154 reported COVID-19 cases in the most recent week and 251 the week before.However, those numbers areconsidered to be a significant undercount due tolimited testing offered by public health.

There were 59peopleadmitted tohospital with the illness, including 15whoneeded intensive care. The numbers, respectively, from the previously week were 76 and seven.

The total number of reported deaths from COVID-19 rose by four between the two reporting periods.