Manitoba is one of two provinces reporting no flu data, the other being British Columbia. Although the data is not being shared, Manitoba doctors said doctors are seeing increased cases of RSV, influenza A and influenza B. “We’re just seeing an uptick in respiratory viruses, respiratory illnesses coming in and a lot of people testing negative for COVID,” said Candace Bradshaw, president of Doctors Manitoba. The province said in a statement to CTV News Winnipeg that regular reports will take place “over the coming weeks.” “We’re probably in the middle of a significant increase, but we’re not sure. Without data, I can’t say for sure. I just know what I see in my office and I know what keeps me and my fellow doctors very busy,” Bradshaw said. What doctors deal with is reflected in the classroom. Louis Riel School District said it sees total absences up to 19.2 percent as of Monday. While the school division doesn’t track the reasons for the absences, it says the situation is being closely monitored. “If there is concern about truancy at a given school, it will seek additional guidance from public health,” the school department said in a statement. Bradshaw said she believes there will still be several weeks left in this flu season and encourages Manitobans to try to manage flu symptoms at home as much as possible. But that advice can be difficult to follow, as Pharmacists Manitoba says pharmacies are running low on children’s Tylenol and Advil, amoxicillin and other prescription antibiotics. “Certainly, a lot of concern and frustration about it. Some people are aware of the shortage or are hunting from pharmacy to pharmacy looking for products. Other people are surprised to find that these products are not available on the shelves,” said Tim Smith, a pharmacy consultant with the Pharmacists Manitoba. Smith recommends that people who need over-the-counter medications talk to pharmacists who may be able to provide alternatives. “I would say drug shortages are becoming an increasing reality of our health system.” Bradshaw said she believes all Manitobans should step up and wear a mask more than usual, be smart and get vaccinated. It also encourages people to seek medical attention if they experience shortness of breath, chest pain or an uncontrolled fever. Meanwhile, HSC Children’s Hospital continues to deal with high volumes of patients. Shared Health said there were 198 patients in the ER on Monday, and 116 of them were high- to moderate-acuity patients. He adds that respiratory disease contributes to ER demand.
