Summary

In Week 4 (January 21–27, 2019), emergency department visits and hospitalizations following visits increased among children under 2 years of age (up 11%, or 3,036 visits, and up 10%, or 442 hospitalizations, respectively). Among children aged 2–14 and those over 15, both visits and hospitalizations following visits remained stable.

Visits for influenza and flu-like illness are up by 68% (i.e., 3,456 more visits) across all age groups and account for 3% of total coded activity. Hospitalizations following visits are also up by 63%. All metropolitan regions are experiencing an epidemic in Week 4.

Other seasonal respiratory conditions continue to rise, at levels similar to previous years, notably: - acute bronchitis (+8%, or +247 visits), ENT conditions (+15%, or +2,352 visits) across all age groups, primarily among those under 15 (respectively +22% and +18%), - pneumonia among those under 15 (+15%, or +103 visits).

There has also been an increase in visits for isolated fever across all age groups (+10%), gastroenteritis (+11%), and malaise (+23%) among those under 15.