Nationally, the activity level reported this week remained similar to the previous week. While the number of hospitalizations and deaths still increased, the proportion of positive influenza tests was comparable and the national ILI consultation rate and the number of influenza outbreaks reported decreased.
The Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 strain accounted for nearly 100% of the positive influenza A subtyped specimens this week.
The intensity of Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in the population was high with 1,674 hospitalizations, 261 ICU admissions and 84 deaths reported this week. Hospitalized cases occurred in all provinces and territories (P/T) that reported this week while the deaths were from all P/T except MB, PE, YT, NT and NU. From August 30 to November 14, 2009, a total of 3,965 hospitalized cases including 576 cases admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) (14.5%) as well as 142 deaths had been reported. Numbers of new deaths were more than two times higher than last week.
The number of hospitalizations and deaths reported this week were higher than the overall number of hospitalizations and deaths for the first wave.