2024-01-13 13:30:00
Do you feel like everyone around you is sick? You are not dreaming, the respiratory infection season is particularly fierce this year as COVID-19 — much more contagious — is now added to the cocktail of viruses that circulate every winter.
• Read also: All respiratory viruses circulating in Quebec and their symptoms
The emergency room occupancy rate has shown no sign of respite since mid-December, and remains well above 100% in almost all regions of Quebec.
It reached 137% on Wednesday followingnoon. The previous record was set at 130% in January 2020.
Consultations for coughs and fevers remain very high in hospitals. And nationally, flu activity continues to increase, according to the Canadian government.
In Quebec, the percentage of positive tests for influenza was 18% in hospital laboratories, indicate the latest data from the National Institute of Public Health of Quebec (INSPQ).
An increase in the spread of respiratory viruses is also expected for the coming weeks, announced at a press briefing on Wednesday the Minister of Health Christian Dubé and the national director of public health, Dr Luc Boileau.
“It was difficult in the last few weeks, and it will continue to be difficult,” warned Mr. Dubé regarding the situation in emergencies, particularly in the greater Montreal region.
Despite everything, influenza activity remains within the limits of the levels forecast for this time of year.
“Right now, it compares to the years before the pandemic. We are within the expected average for influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV),” summarizes epidemiologist and doctoral candidate in public health at the University of Montreal, Kevin L’Espérance.
The increase in cases of respiratory viruses is therefore not atypical following the new year.
So what explains why the emergency rooms are overflowing and everyone is coughing?
Stevens LeBlanc/JOURNAL DE QUEBEC
The Minister of Health, Christian Dubé
COVID plays spoilsport
“The SARS-CoV-2 — the virus responsible for COVID-19 — is the one who plays the spoilsport the most. We still have more than 1,000 new hospitalizations due to COVID,” reports professor in the biological sciences department of UQAM and specialist in virology, Benoit Barbeau.
“Analysis of wastewater also shows that the virus is transmitted among the population, in addition to what we see in emergencies,” continues the expert.
The percentage of positive tests for COVID-19 in the laboratory was 16% last week, reports the INSPQ.
SARS-CoV-2 is thus added to the list of respiratory viruses that normally spread during the cold and flu season.
“In addition to all the infections which led vulnerable people to be seen in the emergency room or hospitalized, we add on top of that COVID-19, which is enormously more contagious than the others, which we did not have before », Specifies Dr. Caroline Quach-Thanh, microbiologist-infectious disease specialist and pediatrician at CHU Sainte-Justine.
Before the holidays, SARS-CoV-2 was the cause of “45% of hospitalizations for respiratory infections in adults,” she points out.
In pediatrics, it was only responsible for a maximum of 10% of admissions. RSV, on the other hand, constituted almost 40% of hospitalizations for respiratory infections.
“With the prevention measures that were put in place during the pandemic, [beaucoup d’enfants] have not been exposed to the various respiratory viruses that usually circulate every fall and winter. Our immune system needs to be exposed to viruses in order to maintain protection. We therefore fell behind and we have seen this catch-up since last year,” explains Dr. Quach-Thanh.
“Data from the past still reported eight or nine respiratory viral infections per year in children, concentrated in the winter months,” she adds.
Added to these viruses this year is an increase in cases of Mycoplasma pneumoniaea bacteria that also causes flu symptoms.
• Read also: Mycoplasma pneumoniae: should Quebec fear a pneumonia epidemic like in China?
Vaccine fatigue
The experts consulted by 24 hours also point to the low vaccination rate this year, despite the increase in cases of respiratory infections. Only 17% of Quebecers have been vaccinated once morest COVID-19 since the start of the campaign on October 10.
“We have noticed in recent times a sort of vaccine fatigue, both once morest COVID and influenza,” recalls epidemiologist Kevin L’Espérance.
At a press conference on December 19, Dr. Boileau tried to convince the population to receive a new dose once morest COVID-19.
Joël Lemay / Agence QMI
The national director of public health, Dr. Luc Boileau.
The National Directorate of Public Health reiterated its message Wednesday followingnoon, this time for influenza.
“As citizens, you can limit the pressure on our emergencies,” says Christian Dubé. There is a last effort to be made for vaccination.
“Vaccination helps a lot, especially the most vulnerable populations,” argues virologist Benoit Barbeau. People have abandoned health measures, they are less cautious, more confident. If we have less enthusiasm for vaccination than in previous years, it is certain that it affects the level of hospitalizations.
What can you do to avoid viruses (and if you get sick)?
“For the lucky ones who have not yet been infected,” emphasizes Professor Barbeau, “it is better to wash your hands frequently and maximize outdoor activities which reduce the transmission of viruses by aerosol.”
Caroline Quach-Thanh adds that wearing a mask is strongly recommended in closed and poorly ventilated environments, such as public transport.
And to help hospital environments that are having difficulty managing the flow of infections, Kevin L’Espérance reminds that vaccines once morest influenza and COVID-19 remain concrete and effective tools for protection.
“We must remember the good measures we put in place during the pandemic. If these instructions work to fight COVID, they also work for all other viruses,” he says.
And as soon as one has symptoms like cough and runny nose, the norm should be to wear a mask. “But not the one that has been hanging around in our pockets for months,” says Mr. Barbeau. We’ll get a new one. It’s just responsible.”
“The beginning of winter is always a favorable time for the transmission of viruses. Integrating these behaviors at the most risky time might simply help return to a pre-pandemic level of infection,” he explains.
What if you don’t feel well and have a fever?
“We stay calm and limit our contacts in closed and busy environments,” summarizes Dr. Quach-Than. We also avoid visiting vulnerable people such as the elderly, infants, pregnant women and people with chronic illnesses or those who are immunocompromised.”
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