Hospitals across Northern Ireland and Ottawa are experiencing an unprecedented surge in influenza cases among children, with doctors warning that this season could be the worst in a decade. The numbers are stark: in Northern Ireland, official data shows confirmed flu cases among adults and children more than tripled in just two weeks, rising from 273 to 954 cases by the end of November 2025. Meanwhile, Ottawa’s Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) reported 145 children testing positive for influenza in November alone—eight times more than the previous year—with hospitalizations doubling compared to 2024.
Children and young people are bearing the brunt of this outbreak. According to the BBC, the positivity rate for influenza was highest among children aged five to 14 in Northern Ireland, hitting 52.3% in the week ending November 23. Children under five were admitted to hospitals at higher rates than any other age group during this period. Dr. Julie-Ann Maney, a paediatric emergency medicine consultant at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, described the situation as dire: "I have been a consultant since 2010 and this is the most severe influenza outbreak that I have experienced." She emphasized that this season’s strain is particularly virulent, with many children experiencing prolonged high fevers and more severe symptoms than usual.
CHEO’s experience mirrors this alarming trend. In early December, the Ottawa Citizen reported that the hospital saw a dramatic increase in emergency department visits for respiratory symptoms, with very few of those patients having received flu vaccinations. CHEO’s senior vice-president of clinical services, Tammy DiGiovanni, issued a "call to action" for families to get vaccinated, noting, "Having influenza is just not fun. We tend to talk about flu casually. It is actually deadly. It causes death in kids and older adults every year. And it is something we can do something about – get vaccinated."
The flu season’s early and aggressive arrival has put immense strain on healthcare systems. In Northern Ireland, the infection rate jumped from 14.3 to 25.4 cases per 100,000 people in just one week, according to the Public Health Agency. The Department for Health reported that flu-related hospital admissions soared from 144 to 264 in a single week at the end of November. Dr. Peter Naughton, a health protection consultant with the PHA, observed, "One utter new feature of the flu season this year has been the higher rate of positive tests we've seen in children."
Ottawa is facing similar pressures. CHEO is currently operating at over 100% capacity but has managed to avoid canceling surgeries or clinics by opening additional space. Still, waits in the emergency department are long, and the hospital expects the situation to worsen as the influenza season is not expected to peak until late December. Three viruses—flu, COVID-19, and RSV—are all circulating in Ontario, but flu cases are rising more quickly than the others. A new vaccine for infants, introduced in Ontario last year, has significantly reduced RSV hospitalizations, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the challenges.
Experts point to a mutated and particularly aggressive flu strain as the culprit behind this year’s surge. According to BBC and the Ottawa Citizen, the flu virus has changed enough that the current vaccine isn’t a perfect match, but health officials stress it still offers strong protection against two of the three leading strains and can reduce the severity of illness. This year’s outbreak follows reports from the southern hemisphere, where Australia and Japan also faced early and severe flu seasons, with children hardest hit and dozens of schools in Japan forced to close.
Vaccination remains the cornerstone of flu prevention. Dr. Thomas Bourke, a consultant paediatrician at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children and officer for the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health in Ireland, emphasized, "Vaccination remains the frontline defence against the flu." He added that last year, 862 children and young people were admitted to hospital with influenza in Northern Ireland, and data from southern hemisphere countries suggests there could be even more admissions this year. Nevertheless, vaccine uptake is lagging: in Northern Ireland, only about 67% of those over 65 have been vaccinated, falling short of the World Health Organization’s 75% target. Uptake among children aged two to four and in school programs has been particularly low in recent years. Rachel Spiers, senior immunisation programme manager at the PHA, urged, "We would strongly encourage parents to come forward to vaccinate their preschool child."
Parents are understandably anxious. Dr. Bourke acknowledged the challenges, saying, "We understand it's very difficult for parents when their child is sick at home but there are lots of sources of information and places where they can get support." Both the Belfast Trust and CHEO offer online symptom checkers to help families assess the severity of their child’s illness and decide when to seek emergency care. Most children recover from the flu within a week, but warning signs such as sudden, intense fever, breathing difficulties, severe chest pains, and persistent vomiting or diarrhea should prompt immediate medical attention.
Prevention advice remains consistent: regular hand washing, not sharing cups or utensils, and encouraging children to sneeze into tissues all help limit the spread of the virus. Annual flu vaccination is also recommended, not only to protect the individual child but to reduce the risk of transmitting the virus to vulnerable family members, including infants who are too young to be vaccinated. Vaccines are widely available at pharmacies, primary care providers, and public health clinics in both Northern Ireland and Ottawa.
Healthcare leaders are clear: this is not the time for complacency. Health Minister Mike Nesbitt of Northern Ireland urged, "It is not too late to get vaccinated for the flu." As hospitals brace for the peak of the season, the message from doctors and public health officials is unified and urgent—get vaccinated, practice good hygiene, and seek help if symptoms become severe. With the holidays approaching and hospitals already stretched, individual action could make all the difference in protecting children and the broader community from this exceptionally harsh flu season.
The stakes are high, and the numbers are rising, but with vigilance and community effort, there’s hope that the impact of this severe outbreak can be blunted before the season’s end.
