As flu season fades, spring and summer viruses emerge. What are they?

As Canadians bid farewell to the aches and chills of the respiratory virus season a new question looms: what other microbial menaces will appear as days grow warmer?

As Canadians bid farewell to the aches and chills of the season of respiratory viruses, like influenza, a new question looms: what other microbial menaces will appear as days grow warmer?

As the transition from winter to spring unfolds and people begin to gather outdoors, it’s crucial to remain vigilant against a range of viruses that thrive in the warmer months, experts warn. While some infectious agents, like the common cold and flu, may recede as the days get warmer, others persist year-round or even intensify as temperatures rise.

In reflection of the recent flu season, Dr. Colin Furness, an infection control epidemiologist and assistant professor in the faculty of information at the University of Toronto, notes it was quite “moderate.”

“It peaked in the middle of the winter and influenza A is almost gone and influenza B peaked recently, which is a little late, but on the way down, too,” Furness told Global News.

At the end of April, he said, influenza can be quite substantial, but this particular year it’s not.

National flu activity has steadily decreased over the past few weeks, according to the latest data from the Public Health Agency of Canada’s (PHAC) Flu Watch. Influenza A continues to decrease and is lower than influenza B, which is also decreasing, PHAC said.

And as influenza season comes to an end, here is what Canadians can anticipate the emergence of other viruses and bacteria in the warmer months.

Enteroviruses are a diverse group of viruses comprising over 100 types and tend to be more common during the summer months. They can manifest in various illnesses, ranging from mild cold-like symptoms to more severe respiratory and neurological conditions, according to the BC Centre for Disease Control.