ManitobaFlu season is knocking on Manitoba’s door and provincial officials say the health-care system is more ready than it has been in years.’We’re better prepared this year than we have been in years past’: KinewDarren Bernhardt · CBC News · Posted: Nov 03, 2025 2:11 PM EST | Last Updated: 3 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 4 minutesThe most severe RSV cases during last year’s flu season in Manitoba were observed in children under five years old, especially those under six months. Flu season is knocking on Manitoba’s door and provincial officials say the health-care system is more ready than it has been in years.Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara said the province has added approximately 3,400 net new health-care workers since being elected in October 2023, while also adding 323 beds in that time.Another 34 beds will be opened soon, Asagwara added, noting the government is pushing for those to be available by the end of 2025, but for sure by the end of the fiscal year in spring.Of the 323 newest beds, 10 have been added to intensive care units in Winnipeg — six at the Health Sciences Centre Children’s Hospital, two at St. Boniface Hospital and two at Grace Hospital — since April 2025.The other beds for general medicine, surgical and transitional care, are spread across in hospitals in Winnipeg, Brandon, Selkirk, Dauphin and Steinbach, according to a news release from the province. “We’re about to be in a very challenged time of year in terms of the pressures and demands that we see in the health-care system with flu season, with respiratory virus season upon us,” Asagwara said at a news conference Monday at St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg. “There are moments that we know are going to test our system’s capacity and that remind us of why preparation matters.”Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara speaks at Monday’s news conference at St. Boniface Hospital. (Warren Kay/CBC)Asked why, if there is so much more capacity, the public is still facing long waitlists at hospitals, Asagwara blamed the previous Progressive Conservative government for “years of cuts and under-investment in health care” that left hospitals short on staff and space to care for patients. “It really does show Manitobans the magnitude of the damage done by the previous government” which cut more than 500 beds, hundreds of health-care workers and shut down three ERs in Winnipeg, the minister said.Since being elected, the NDP have been rebuilding capacity but there’s still work to do, added Premier Wab Kinew.”When we get to the stage of repairing the damage that was caused under the previous government, it’s not going to be fixed overnight,” he said.”But what we are seeing heading into this year’s flu season, is that we’re better prepared this year than we have been in years past.”Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew says repairing the cuts to the health-care system by the previous government won’t be fixed overnight ‘but what we are seeing heading into this year’s flu season, is that we’re better prepared this year than we have been in years past.’ (Warren Kay/CBC)The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) season in Manitoba typically begins to circulate in late fall and continues to early spring, running essentially from November to March.The province saw a surge in the number of RSV patients around Christmas last year and it continued into January 2025.The majority of cases were caused by the influenza A(H1N1) strain, according to the province. And the most severe cases, including hospital and ICU admissions, were observed in children under five years old, especially those under six months. “Every year we see respiratory virus season put significant strain on the health-care system” that can also lead to delayed surgeries, said Brent Roussin, Manitoba’s chief public health officer.”This year we see a system that’s stronger in position to handle the known upcoming increasing demands,” he added, echoing Kinew’s comments.Those most susceptible to RSVs are those over 65 years of age, those under age five, and those with underlying medical conditions, especially cardiovascular disease and diabetes, Roussin said.Vaccines are the most effective protection, he said.“Every year, when we review our ICU admissions, we see that almost no one admitted to ICU, related to influenza, is vaccinated.”So far this year, there’s been an uptake of about 10 per cent of people getting the flu and COVID vaccines, Roussin said, but added there’s a delay in getting those reports.Current data is based on results from earlier in the season “so over these next couple of weeks we’ll start seeing the true numbers,” he said.The average uptake in a season is 23 per cent for flu shots, while those getting COVID shots has declined significantly from the pandemic years.Last year about 16 per cent of people were vaccinated for COVID, with more than half of those being over the age of 65, Roussin said.ABOUT THE AUTHORDarren Bernhardt has been with CBC Manitoba since 2009 and specializes in offbeat and local history stories. He is the author of two bestselling books: The Lesser Known: A History of Oddities from the Heart of the Continent, and Prairie Oddities: Punkinhead, Peculiar Gravity and More Lesser Known Histories.
Manitoba hospital capacity boosted with new beds as respiratory virus season arrives
