Canada is still in the midst of the flu epidemic, according to the latest national FluWatch release, which indicates a steady decline in flu activity, particularly affecting young children and the elderly.

The report issued on Friday also said, "At the national level, flu activity has continued to increase sharply as we enter the fifth week of the national epidemic.

Also, all surveillance indicators are increasing and are all above the typical expected levels for this time of year."

Between November 20 and 26, 8226 laboratory detections were reported, compared to 5891 cases in the previous week; an increase of about 14.8 percent. The provinces most affected by influenza include Prince Edward Island, Alberta, and British Columbia.

Within a few weeks, infections rose, with an earlier report this month, ending November 5, reporting 999 flu detections among individuals aged 5 to 19. In the latest report ending November 26, this number rose to 4692.

Also, many cases were reported, about 46 percent, among Canadians aged 0-19 years. However, the groups that suffered more severe outcomes from the flu were children under the age of four and adults over 45 years old.

Hospitalization rates among children aged 0-4 are among the highest, reaching 40.9 percent of confirmed cases. Specifically, children aged 2 to 4 were hospitalized more than others, with 203 admissions reported last week.

Among cases in adults aged 65 and older, the hospitalization rate rose to 33.4 percent in the latest report. The report stated that since the beginning of the flu season in August, there have been 109 ICU admissions and 36 flu-related deaths.

In the same context, Canadian health experts have warned throughout the flu season to take precautions, as the epidemic, along with COVID-19 cases, RSV virus, and other respiratory illnesses, in addition to the shortage of pain relief medicines for children, has exacerbated hospitals across the country and overwhelmed other parts of the healthcare system.

A recent report issued by the National Institute on Aging indicated that there is a slow increase in flu vaccinations among Canadians this season, as the study found that only 48 percent of Canadians received the flu vaccine throughout the 2021-22 season. Those aged 65 or older were notably lower than expected, with 70 percent reporting they received the flu vaccination.

Health Canada indicated that a vaccination rate of 80 percent is required among adults aged 65 or older to effectively protect the vulnerable group.