A wide spectrum of viruses are battling our immune systems this flu season, says N.L. health official
Besides influenza, there’s COVID-19, RSV and hMVP floating around the province
People across Newfoundland and Labrador are grabbing tissues and cough medicine as they look for relief from the collection of viruses making the rounds here — and one public health official is urging everyone to take precautions.
According to the N.L. respiratory activity dashboard, between Dec. 29 and Jan. 4 there were 43 reported cases of influenza, with six hospitalizations and one death.
"This year, there's certainly still a fair amount of flu virus circulating, but it's not as much as last season from what we're seeing so far," said Dr. Emil Prikryl, a medical officer of health with Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services.
"We're not out of the woods yet, of course. We're in early January, so still in the midst of the respiratory season."
But it's not just the flu.
Lab tests show slightly more cases of mycoplasma pneumonia bacteria than before the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.
Prikryl said there's a range of viruses present in N.L., including influenza, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) as well as pertussis, a bacteria more commonly known as whooping cough, which had an outbreak in N.L. in 2024.
He also said human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is floating around, which produces similar symptoms as other respiratory ailments, like a severe cough.
According to the World Health Organization, hMPV is a virus that can cause the common cold but can also lead to hospitalization in extreme cases.
"There were around 12 detections in the last week of December and then there were 14 detections reported in just the first week of this year," said Prikryl.
The province has recorded a total of 69 cases of hMPV.
While Prikryl said those are low numbers, it only shows cases detected through lab results.
"Lab detection rates aren't the whole story. There's usually quite a bit more of any given virus — including this one — circulating than just what the labs are able to pick up from tests alone," he said.
The health authority tracks symptoms of patients who show up at hospital emergency rooms, he said, and in the last few weeks there has been a small uptick in influenza-like illnesses.
"It's not a very dramatic increase, but it's good enough to say that we need to continue to take all the precautions appropriate at the, you know, individual level that we can do to protect ourselves and to protect others," Prikryl said.
Take precautions
He said people worried about "serious symptoms" — like a persistent fever or chest pain — should go to their health-care provider.
"Because it can lead to hospitalization. It can lead to death. And so again, if you're having that difficulty breathing, chest pain, those things, it's important to see a health-care provider," he said.
People can take steps to protect themselves from viruses, including washing their hands, staying home if they feel sick, "and potentially wearing a mask to protect yourself and others, especially if there's vulnerable people around you," said Prikryl.
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a spectrum of viruses present and battling our immune systems
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With files from Leila Beaudoin
