Key Points

• In week 51 (December 16–22, 2024), emergency department visits increased compared to the previous week across all age groups, rising moderately among those under 15 and those aged 15–74 (+3%, or +10,957 visits) and more significantly among those aged 75 and older (+7%, or +3,990 visits). Hospitalizations following emergency department visits increased in the same proportion as visits among those aged 2–14 (+3%, or +159 hospitalizations) and remained stable or decreased in other age groups.

• Seasonal respiratory indicators are mostly on the rise across all age groups. The increase in emergency department visits for influenza/influenza-like illness continues across all age groups (+82%, or +4,695 visits). Among 2- to 14-year-olds and adults, increases were less pronounced for ENT infections (+10% across all ages, or +1,701 visits), acute bronchitis (+15% across all ages, or +395 visits), pneumonia (+7% across all ages, or +448 visits), and cough among 2- to 14-year-olds (+7%, or +80 visits).

• There was a decrease in bronchiolitis among children under 2 years old (-8%, or -316 visits). Visits for pneumonia and acute bronchitis were also down in this age group compared to the previous week.

• Among other indicators, the following increases in visits are noted:

  • for isolated fever across all age groups (+21%, or +1,211 visits),

  • for gastroenteritis (+195 visits) and vomiting (+157 visits) among children and those aged 75 and older.

  • for asthma attacks among those aged 75 and older (+38%, or +39 visits).