Flu season: 'Red flag waving at us right now,' official says amid increase in child hospitalizations

A surge of Australian hospitalizations for children with the flu is concerning Canadian health officials, however, it is giving them the chance to learn and prepare Canadians for their own upcoming flu season, too.

71 per cent of patients admitted to hospitals with the flu were children under the age of 16, the Australian government reported earlier this week.

Though the overall number of influenza cases has decreased in Canada since this time last year, hospitals are admitting more children between the ages 5-9, with weaker immune systems, than they are newborn babies and toddlers.

The increase in hospitalizations is reportedly caused by a drop in flu shots.

“There’s a red flag waving at us right now saying (we should) be on alert and get protected,” said Montreal-based pediatrician Dr. John Yarenko.

Global's Nathaniel Dove reports.

For more info, please go to https://globalnews.ca/news/9836500/flu-season-children-australia-canada/

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