More illnesses, bugs hitting Prince Edward Island right now, CPHO says

If you've noticed more of your relatives, co-workers and neighbours getting sick recently, you may be on to something. 

The Chief Public Health Office says there are many bugs and illnesses making people ill on the Island right now.

Some illnesses are hitting children especially hard, and child-care centres have noticed. 

"We're licensed for 63 a day. And there was one day that I know there was 20-something children out, and three staff members," said Jessica MacDonald, a supervisor at Appleseed Childcare. 

The CPHO says cases of RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) are on the rise, and there are ongoing whooping cough and gastrointestinal illness outbreaks.

MacDonald says it's uncommon to have so many illnesses making children sick at the child-care centre, and that's made this flu season a little more difficult. 

"It's just more where it's a mixture, and it lingers. From what I've been told by parents, they'll be vomiting one day, and then it's gone for 24 hours, and then it seems to roll back around again for the children. So it's lasting up to a week for some of them."

MacDonald says the common issues for kids are cold symptoms, chest infections and pneumonia.  

The Public Schools Branch has also seen more kids getting sick recently. There are fewer students in their desks this fall compared to last year, and the overall student absence rate has climbed from 9.5 per cent in October to 11.4 per cent in December.

Staff at Charlottetown Rural High say the school has avoided any big outbreaks, but that may be because it doesn't face the same challenges as some schools. 

'A mixture' of illnesses hitting some daycares and families hard this fall

8 days ago

Duration 2:12

P.E.I.'s Chief Public Health Office says multiple bugs are spreading around the Island right now. A daycare supervisor tells the CBC's Steve Bruce how the germs and viruses are affecting staff and children.

"At the young age… they're sharing toys, and they're in such close proximity to each other. I think in high school they're just a little more aware of how things are spread, especially since COVID," said Kelly Minnis, the school's principal. "So when they aren't feeling well, they tend to stay away."

'It can be frustrating'

Appleseed employees have stepped up their cleaning, but it can be tough to keep up. The centre has asked parents to wait until their children are symptom-free before bringing them back. 

But MacDonald understand that's not always an easy ask. 

"It's difficult, and I'm sure it can be frustrating," she said. "I'm a parent as well, so whenever my kids are sick, I also have to stay home with them — and especially this time of year, financially, everybody's trying to get ready for Christmas.

"But we do appreciate whenever they are obeying the health policies. We have to try to keep everybody as healthy as possible."

The Chief Public Health Office agrees. It says you should wash your hands often, stay up to date on your shots to protect yourself from illnesses, and stay home when you're sick.