Feeling sick? Ontario experiencing rise in Influenza B cases

Dr. Isaac Bogoch on what the warning signs are for influenza B and how to stay healthy when people from across the globe come to Toronto for the World Cup.

Flu activity is increasing in Ontario following a spike in infections over the last several months, provincial health data shows.

According to Public Health Ontario (PHO), as soon as influenza A cases started to level off in the province in February, influenza B cases started to tick upwards and continue to do so.

“In general, influenza is influenza at an individual level. All influenza can pack a punch,” infectious diseases specialist Dr. Isaac Bogoch told CP24 on Tuesday morning.

“People can feel pretty miserable with this. And in a typical season, we see at the beginning, lots of influenza A, then influenza A starts to wind down, and then you get a bump of influenza B.”

Most recent case counts provided by the province show there were 385 infections of influenza B reported during the week of March 29. Comparatively, there were 26 influenza A infections reported over the same time period. COVID-19 cases in the province remain relatively flat.

At the height of the flu season in Ontario, the province saw as many as 6,791 cases of influenza A in one week in mid-December.

Bogoch said that while most people will recover from a flu infection in the comfort of their home, some may require medical intervention.

“You’re looking for things like sputum production (phlegm), fevers, somnolence (drowsiness), fatigue, people just aren’t themselves. And of course, if you’re worried, you’ve got to go seek care,” he said.

In some cases, Bogoch explained, a post-viral cough can follow a flu infection, but that usually clears up in a week or so.

“But of course, if there’s any warning signs or red flags, they’ve got to come in and get care and get evaluated by a health care provider, especially a family physician or an urgent care provider or an emergency room,” he added.

PHO is forecasting that flu activity is expected to remain stable in the province over the next two weeks.