Respiratory illnesses on the decline in Sask.: latest CRISP report

Despite rising numbers across the country, Saskatchewan saw a decline in the number of COVID-19, influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) over the past two weeks, according to the latest Community Respiratory Illness Surveillance Program (CRISP) report.

COVID-19, flu and RSV all saw case count and test positivity rates shrink slightly.

“We are not out of this respiratory season yet,” said University of Saskatchewan public health professor Dr. Julie Kryzanowski.

“Not all parts of the country, or even the province, are hit at the same time with the same virus in the same way,” she added.

The number of COVID-19 cases continued to decline for the fifth consecutive week from 496 positive tests in the week ending November 11 to 262 in the current week.

The test positivity for the most recent surveillance week was 9.8 per cent compared to 13.8 per cent at the beginning for the four-week reporting period.

The number of influenza cases declined from 867 positive tests in the week ending Dec. 9 to 578 in the current week.

Influenza test positivity in the current reporting week decreased to 25.2 per cent from 31.1 per cent in the previous reporting week.

RSV increased to 111 positive tests in the most recent two weeks compared to 93 in the previous two-week period.

Test positivity in the most recent week decreased slightly to 2.3 per cent from 2.7 per cent for the previous reporting week.

COVID-19 and Influenza accounted for 34 per cent and 47 per cent of hospitalizations due to viral respiratory illnesses across the province, respectively.

CASES AND CHILDREN

An overwhelming majority of flu and RSV cases are in residents 19-years old and under.

There were 65.7 per cent of cases part of that age demographic.

“Especially for infants and young children, those symptoms can progress rapidly,” Dr. Kryzanowski said. “Parents need to be alert to any changes in their child’s condition.”

According to the CRISP report, over 38 per cent of RSV cases are in infants and toddles aged 0 – 4.

INTO THE HOLIDAYS

Cases nationwide are at about the average for this time of year.

“That doesn’t mean it’s good,” Dr. Issac Bogoch told CTV News.

He added cases could spike in the coming weeks after the holidays.

“Sometime in late December or early January, we are going to see more and more of that in the weeks ahead. So unfortunately in the health care settings, it's going to be a very busy holiday season,” Bogoch said.

Canadian health officials are encouraging residents to get vaccinated.

There is also a vaccine for RSV this year. Health Canada has approved that vaccine for people 60 and older, but it is only available free of charge to people in that age group who are living in long-term care homes, elder care lodges, and retirement homes licensed to provide dementia care services.

IMMUNIZATION RATES

Saskatchewan's immunization rates against the seasonal flu and the latest COVID-19 shot are among the lowest in the country, especially in people under 65.

According to the province, just 15 per cent of eligible residents are immunized against the flu, and about 10 per cent are up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines.

“It’s still important to get up to date on your COVID and flu shots if you haven’t got one this fall,” Dr. Kryzanowski reminded.

It takes about two weeks for the vaccine to give its full protection.

“It’s not too late,” Kryzanowski added. “That will protect you into the New Year.”

In total, only about 22 per cent of the population has received a flu shot while 17 got a COVID-19 shot.

- With files from Natalie van Rooy