Key Points

In Week 2 (January 5–11, 2026), the first week back to school, the number of emergency department visits was up among 2- to 14-year-olds (+8%, or 3,974 more visits), down among children under 2 (-23%, or 6,850 fewer visits), and stable among adults compared to the previous week. Hospitalizations following a visit were also up among children aged 2–14 (+11%, or 463 more hospitalizations).

Among respiratory indicators:

• After two weeks of decline, the number of cases of influenza/influenza-like illness was stable in week 02 among 2- to 14-year-olds. However, it was down among adults for the first week (-30%, or -3,246 visits).

• All other respiratory indicators were stable or declining across all age groups.

Among other indicators showing an increase this week, we also note a rise in visits for:

• Trauma among children (+30%, or +3,565 visits) and those aged 15–74 (+9%, or +4,493 visits);

• Abdominal pain among 2- to 14-year-olds (+26%, or +820 visits);

• Vomiting among children under 2 years old (+22%, or +144 visits) and gastroenteritis among children under 2 years old (+11%, or +124 visits);

• Suicidal behavior among children under 15 years of age (+57%, or +65 visits).

These increases followed the trends of previous years, and the levels observed were comparable.