OttawaOttawa’s children’s hospital says it’s concerned about a significant rise in the number of flu cases it’s seen recently. It’s urging everyone to get vaccinated.Most kids coming to Ottawa hospital for flu care are unvaccinatedCBC News · Posted: Dec 03, 2025 12:50 PM EST | Last Updated: 17 minutes agoListen to this articleEstimated 2 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.Ottawa’s children’s hospital is reporting a rise in flu-related visits last month compared to November 2024. (Francis Ferland/CBC)Ottawa’s children’s hospital says it’s concerned about a significant rise in the number of flu cases it’s seen recently.CHEO said Wednesday that eight times more children tested positive for the flu in November 2025 than in November 2024.Twice as many children had to be hospitalized with the flu last month compared to the previous November, it said.That can manifest as a potentially dangerous fever or trouble breathing, according to Angela Crawley, a senior scientist at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute.Most kids coming to CHEO have not had their annual flu vaccine, the hospital added. CHEO is asking everyone to get the vaccine to support community health and protect vulnerable people, including children under five who have smaller airways and weaker immune systems.WATCH | The case for this year’s flu shot:Should you get a flu shot if it’s not a perfect match for this year’s strains? Experts say yesMutations to some H3N2 strains might be mismatched to the current flu vaccine, but doctors explain why it’s still a good idea to get the shot. Children older than six months old can get the vaccine for free in Ontario through pharmacies, medical clinics and, in some cases, Ottawa Public Health. It’s similar in Quebec.According to the most recent respiratory data from Ottawa Public Health, as of Nov. 22, the flu signal in Ottawa’s wastewater is above average. The next update is expected Thursday.CHEO and Ottawa Public Health said the flu season is expected to peak in late December, so more cases are expected.With files from Jodie Applewaithe
CHEO reports concerning rise in flu visits
