2023-12-19 21:00:27
Ontario data shows that as of December 17, a seven-day average of 149 people were hospitalized for respiratory illnesses, down from 171 on December 12. (Shutterstock)
[The Epoch Times, December 20, 2023](Epoch Times reporter Ji Wei reported in Toronto) Families in the Greater Toronto Area that have been troubled by the COVID-19 virus in the past few years have been plunged into chaos once more during this year’s flu season when their children are sick. Experts say this year’s flu season is more normal than when COVID was prevalent. However, hospital emergency rooms are still overcrowded.
Toronto mother Sahar Shoja told the Toronto Star that following her 17-month-old daughter, who went to daycare every day, developed symptoms such as a runny nose, fever, and cough, the couple quickly fell into child care. Sick of the chaos. Calling in sick, canceling vacation plans, caring for a sick child while battling your own illness. Such chaos has occurred twice in the past month.
Acute Care Enhanced Surveillance (ACES), the Ontario hospital real-time monitoring and recording system, shows that viruses including COVID-19, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and adenovirus are all showing off during this year’s flu season.
All public health departments in the GTA are monitoring similar trends, with the rate of emergency room visits for respiratory illnesses reaching new highs this fall.
“We are overcrowded, but we can handle it.” Anne Wormsbecker, chief of pediatrics at St. Joseph’s Health Center in Toronto, said there has been a surge in patients with seasonal respiratory illnesses such as influenza, COVID and RSV.
Data currently available from ACES shows that among GTA health departments, the proportion of emergency room visits related to respiratory illnesses in York Region averaged 9.55% for seven consecutive days, an increase of more than 10% from the previous seven days; Durham Region , was 8.13%, an increase of nearly 5%; Toronto was 8.49%, an increase of 6%; Peel Region was 6.85%, an increase of 8% from the previous seven days.
These are the people who are coming to the emergency room, while many may be at home wrapped in blankets with sniffles or coughs or colds, hoping to get through it.
“This year, things are shifting more toward the patterns we’re used to seeing,” said Allan Grill, director of family medicine at Markham’s Storkford Hospital. Unlike last year, when RSV cases spiked as early as November, This year, more patients with respiratory diseases visited the hospital in December. He explained that usually when a cold snap hits, people start to go indoors, holiday gatherings increase, and the flu peaks.
Ontario data shows that as of December 17, a seven-day average of 149 people were hospitalized for respiratory illnesses, down from 171 on December 12.
Jason Hann, executive vice president of patient care at Kingston Health Sciences Center, cautioned that there has been a “significant increase” in RSV cases among children, especially infants and young children. He expects cases related to respiratory illnesses to increase during the holidays, and they are prepared for a 120% spike in hospitalizations.
Editor in charge: Yue Yi
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