'Hasn't peaked yet': RSV, influenza cases on the rise across the Maritimes

First at Five: Health Check First at five we take a look at what you can do to protect yourself from seasonal sickness.

The holidays may be over, but the gift no one wants has arrived: seasonal sickness.

In recent months, there has also been a spike in walking pneumonia cases.

“It definitely was a banner year for mycoplasma over the last six months or so,” said IWK Health Chief of Pediatrics Dr. Andrew Lynk. “There was more mycoplasma than I’ve ever seen in my whole career at one time, but it does cycle.”

As walking pneumonia cases begin to drop, other viruses are now on the rise across the Maritimes.

“We saw very little RSV here about a month or two ago at the IWK, and in the last couple weeks, we would have a lot of kids in our emergency [department] and admitted with RSV, so it’s definitely on the upswing and probably hasn’t peaked yet,” said Lynk.

So far this season, the bulk of lab-confirmed RSV cases were during the period of Dec. 15 to 28, 2024. In New Brunswick, there were 240 cases reported in that time frame, while Nova Scotia recorded 229 and Prince Edward Island saw 60.

During that same period, there were 229 lab-confirmed influenza cases in New Brunswick. According to provincial data, there were also two deaths, 39 hospitalizations and four ICU admissions.

In Nova Scotia, there were 101 cases, one death, 16 hospitalizations and four admissions to the ICU. On P.E.I., there were six influenza cases, one hospitalization and one ICU admission.

“This time of the year, of course, we’re seeing those surges in RSV, influenza, and COVID,” said pharmacist Pam Kennedy.

Kennedy owns the Bridgewater Guardian Pharmacy and is also a board member with the Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia.

“Into January and February are probably our peak of when we’re seeing these types of things, and certainly they still start to trickle through the spring,” she said.

While people can always ask a pharmacist for advice on non-prescription options when they’re feeling sick, there are also clinics they can access.

“Pharmacists in these primary care clinics, located across the province, are able to assess and treat those patients for strep throat, inner and external ear infections, as well as sinusitis,” Kennedy said.

Both Kennedy and Lynk urge anyone who hasn’t yet to get the flu and COVID vaccines as a layer of protection. They say it’s not too late in the season to get vaccinated.