N.B. sees far more RSV cases than other Atlantic provinces, federal data shows
CBC
New Brunswick has more lab-confirmed cases of respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, than the other three Atlantic provinces combined, according to the latest figures posted by the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Ninety-nine New Brunswickers tested positive for the virus during the week ending Feb. 24, the federal website shows.
There were 96 confirmed cases in the rest of the region: 41 in Newfoundland, 32 in Nova Scotia, and 23 in Prince Edward Island.
RSV is a common respiratory virus most children contract by the age of two. It usually causes a mild illness with cold-like symptoms, but it can result in hospitalization and even death.
Infants, people aged 65 or older, and people who are immunocompromised are considered most at risk for developing severe illness, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.
No information about how many of the New Brunswick cases required hospitalization or resulted in death is available because RSV is not a reportable disease in the province, as it is in some other jurisdictions.
No age breakdowns of cases are available either.
Last month, Dr. Yves Léger, New Brunswick's acting chief medical officer of health, said he anticipated increasing RSV activity would peak soon. He said he expected this to be a "more typical season" than last year.
New Brunswick recorded 2,066 RSV cases in 2022-23 — the highest number in at least a decade.
By comparison, there were 371 cases in 2022-23 and during the previous year, when COVID-19 protective measures, such as masking and physical distancing, were in place, no RSV cases were confirmed.
The 99 RSV cases diagnosed last week raise the total so far this respiratory season to 1,520, the national website shows.
At this time last year the province had 1,877 confirmed cases.
The respiratory season continues into August.
"It's too early to tell whether … a peak has been reached," said Department of Health spokesperson Katelin Dean.
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