Province Provides Update On Respiratory Illness Season

Influenza continues to decline in British Columbia, following an earlier-than-usual peak in late November and early December 2022.

Meanwhile, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) remains high, while COVID-19 has remained relatively stable.

As of Friday, there were 10,106 people hospitalized for all causes throughout the province, down 120 from the previous week.

British Columbia traditionally experiences an increase in hospitalizations in January as people access care after the holiday period. This coincides with increases in respiratory illnesses and surgeries ramping back up after the holiday slowdown.

Public-health officials look at various data sources daily and weekly to understand how the province is doing. These include wastewater surveillance; COVID-19, RSV and influenza testing; hospitalizations; respiratory outbreaks in health-care facilities (including acute and long-term care); and visits to providers in the community.

To date, data indicates that influenza cases in all age groups have declined from a peak test positivity rate of 27% in late November 2022 to 5% in the first week of the new year.

However, while influenza A cases are decreasing, historically there has been an increase in influenza B later in the season, and public-health officials continue to closely monitor the situation.

RSV activity remains high, although it has also levelled off in recent weeks.

COVID-19 cases have remained relatively stable since October 2022, with hospitalization levels decreasing.

To date, 90% of people 12 and older have had two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and 61% have had a COVID-19 booster dose.

The respiratory illness season is expected to continue until March.