Waterloo Region sees spike in flu hospitalizations over holidays
Posted Dec 31, 2025 06:00:00 AM.
Last Updated Dec 31, 2025 02:50:43 PM.
Over the past two weeks, hospitals in Waterloo Region recorded large numbers emergency room visits related to the flu. A mutated version of the H3N2 flu virus is causing more severe flu-like symptoms, even in typically healthy people.
A normal flu vaccine can help protect against those symptoms but the mutated strain is different so it isn’t covered completely by the vaccine.
“H3N2 was included in this year’s vaccine but it has mutated enough, it’s not a great match like it has been,” Waterloo Region Public Health’s director of infectious disease and Chief Nursing Officer, David Aoki, said.
“We are seeing though an increase in hospitalization and we are seeing increases in our long-term care homes and retirement homes as well.”
Likely, the region has yet to hit the peak of flu season. The typical season runs from mid-November to late May, but Aoki said the peak could come early this year as hospitalizations continue to increase.
The Region of Waterloo’s Integrated Respiratory Disease Surveillance Report updated as of Dec 29, shows that the region is seeing a weekly average of 44 per cent of hospitalized patients for influenza strains, up by 16.1 per cent from the week prior.
It shows that the total number of influenza cases for the 2025-2026 flu season sits at 503, with 13 total outbreaks so far. It also shows that at least four people were in the ICU at the time for the mutated strain, up by two from the week prior.
“We are seeing more hospitalizations over the last few weeks, and so it is important to try and take care of yourself; lots of sleep, eat well and if you’re sick stay home,” Aoki said.
He mentioned they are tracking the current influenza cases and hospitalizations.
“Even though it’s that time of year where we like to go visit, make sure especially if you’re visiting loved ones who might be in a long-term care retirement home or who have young children, stay home if you’re sick because even otherwise healthy individuals can get quite sick from this,” he said.
