If you’re bundled up in blankets, battling a fever and feeling the aches set in, you’re not alone. Influenza A, better known as the flu, is on the rise.
Influenza cases have been on the rise in recent weeks, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). As of Feb. 1, 21.2 per cent of tests have come back positive for influenza, up from 16.91 per cent the previous week.
In Canada, flu season typically runs from November to April, and while anyone can catch the flu, the virus can sometimes lead to severe complications — even death, which is why experts stress the importance of the annual flu shot.
Compared to this time last year, PHAC data shows that flu cases are spiking much later than in previous seasons. During the 2022 to 2023 season, cases peaked at the end of November, while last year, the peak came at …