Flu and COVID-related deaths climb over past 2 weeks in Manitoba

The number of deaths due to influenza in Manitoba has jumped again, while those linked to COVID-19 also continue to climb, the province's latest respiratory virus surveillance report says.

There has been a total of 50 flu-related deaths, says themost recent report,which covers the week of Dec. 25-31. That's up 13 from the numberreported twoweeks ago. There was no surveillance report last week due to the holidays.

The total number of COVID-19 deathsjumped 38 in the same time span.

The predominant circulating strain of the flucontinues to be influenza A. The total number of casesthis flu season is now2,499, up from 2,206 in the previous report.

Despite that, and the increase in flu-related deaths, the test positivity isdecreasing in Manitoba.It was at six per cent from Dec. 25-31, as compared to13.6 per cent from Dec.11-17.

Nationally, the test positivity rate is8.5 per cent.

Adults more affected than kids

Another change in Manitoba is the demographic being most impacted.

Children younger than five have been the highest risk group for influenza infection for most of this season, but that is no longer the case.

People age65 and older now have the highestinfection rate, the report says.

Total flu-related hospital admissions is now at605 for theseason, up from 478 two weeks ago. But flu activity is now within expected levels for this time of year, after spiking earlier in the season than usual, the report says.

Other respiratory viruses continue to circulate as well.The test positivity rate forand detection ofrespiratory syncytial virus (RSV)both increased from two weeks ago.

The RSV positivity rate is now 10.9 per cent, up from 6.8 per cent. The number of cases detected from Dec. 25-31 is 148, compared to 120 from Dec.11-17.

COVID-19 activity steady

Overall, COVID-19 activity in Manitoba during the most recent surveillance week is steady fromthe previous reporting week.

There were 111 hospital admissions in the twoweeks covered by the latest report averaging out to about 55 for each week and 69 in the one-weekperiod covered by the previous report.

Of the 111, 23 were admitted to intensive care units. There were 14 ICU admissions in the previous reporting period.

The most recent test positivity rate is19.8 per cent, down from 20.5 per cent.

And the number ofnew reported COVID-19 cases in the most recent report was134, down from 158 in the previous report. Those numbers, though, are considered to be a significant undercount due to limited testing offered by public health.

Wastewater surveillance dataalso suggestssustained activity of COVID-19 in Winnipeg and Brandon but atlower levels.

Thenext surveillance report is scheduled to be releasedJan.13.