Please find below Peel Public Health’s respiratory illness season key messages and data highlights for the period of October 26 to November 1.
This summary includes relevant details related to Peel’s respiratory illness landscape. The information is intended to help streamline public health messaging across our Peel system partners. Please reference this material as needed for any respiratory illness status updates and share the information with your respective staff and partners as relevant. Peel Public Health asks that our content not be changed. If supplemented, please indicate which portions are your own and which originate from Peel Public Health.
As this document pertains specifically to Peel’s respiratory season, please refer to the latest updates on Ontario’s respiratory virus situation by monitoring the Ontario Respiratory Virus Tool. For updates across Canada, consult the Canadian respiratory virus surveillance report (FluWatch+) on Canada.ca.
Additionally, Peel Public Health encourages health care providers to stay informed by subscribing to our Health Professionals Updates (HPU). This service shares timely and relevant public health information to support health professionals in the community. Interested individuals can sign up by visiting: Subscribe to Health Professionals Update (HPU) emails.
| Key Highlights / Messages | In week 44, overall respiratory virus activity in Peel was low and similar to the previous report. The first influenza outbreak of the 2025-2026 season in Peel was declared in week 44. The Older Adult high-risk RSV program has expanded this year to include ALL individuals 75 years and older. Peel Public Health is offering a limited number of RSV vaccine clinics for eligible individuals 60 years and older without a primary care provider. Appointments can be booked by calling 905-799-7700. Influenza and COVID-19 vaccines for the general population are now available at participating pharmacies and primary care clinics. In November, Peel Public Health will be offering a limited number of Influenza and COVID-19 vaccine clinics for children 6 months to 4 years. Check https://peelregion.ca/health/vaccinations for booking information. No one intervention on its own is 100% effective at preventing the spread of respiratory infections, but practicing multiple public health measures provides the best protection. Community members can: Get vaccinated and stay up to date with vaccinations. Stay home when sick, and if unable to stay at home, wear a mask and avoid vulnerable populations, such as the elderly or immunocompromised. Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow, not your hand. In health care settings, this may include: Return of masking policies and other measures (e.g., active screening) based on epidemiology and provincial recommendations. |
| Current Peel Respiratory Illness Status through October 26 to November 1, 2025 | In week 44, overall respiratory activity in Peel remained low overall. The first influenza outbreak of the 2025-2026 season in Peel was declared in week 44. In week 43, percent positivity was highest for enterovirus/rhinovirus (9.1%), however positivity for these viruses has decreased from a high of 22.1% in week 39. Since September 1, 2025, Influenza A (H3N2) is the dominant circulating influenza strain in Peel (Note: interpret with caution; low counts). Since September 1, 2025, respiratory outbreaks in Peel have been driven by COVID-19 (n=19), rhinovirus or enterovirus (n=14), and seasonal human coronavirus (n=4). Most acute care admissions in Peel this season have been due to COVID-19 (compared to influenza or RSV). In week 44, wastewater detections varied by virus (RSV=moderate, Influenza A = moderate, Influenza B = not detected, and COVID-19=low). Detailed epidemiologic updates can continue to be found weekly on Wednesdays at: Peel Respiratory Virus Activity report . For a list of current (open) outbreaks visit: Ongoing Institutional Outbreaks. |
| Testing eligibility, availability and Infection Prevention & Control (IPAC) Updates | The Ministry of Health (MOH) recommends a Test-to-Treat approach for respiratory viruses. Individuals must be symptomatic to meet the current eligibility criteria. FLUVID (tests for influenza A, B, RSV A/B, and SARS-COV-2), Multiplex Respiratory Virus (MRVP) (tests for influenza A, B, RSV A/B, parainfluenza 1-4, adenovirus, enterovirus, seasonal human coronavirus, rhinovirus and human metapneumovirus), and SARS-CoV-2 testing are available for eligible individuals. Refer to the following links for current eligibility: Respiratory Viruses (including influenza) | Public Health Ontario COVID19 testing and treatment | ontario.ca |
| Vaccine Updates | Ordering information/updates: Peel Public Health is accepting orders for influenza, RSV, and COVID-19 immunizations Place your vaccine orders through the Peel Health Professionals Portal. Vaccine orders will be shipped only through the free delivery option. You’ll receive an email the day before your delivery. Deliveries will be completed between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Someone must be available during this time to receive your order. Please allow 3 to 4 weeks for delivery. RSV Prevention Programs: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of lower respiratory illness affecting the lungs and airways, particularly among infants, young children, and older adults. Ontario has two prevention programs to help provide protection for these vulnerable populations: Infant and High-risk Children RSV prevention program This program began October 1, 2025, and is intended for: Infants born April 1, 2025, or after and less than 8 months of age up to the end of the RSV season. High-risk children up to 24 months of age who remain vulnerable from severe RSV disease through their second RSV season. The recommended approach for RSV prevention is administering Beyfortus® to infants. This RSV monoclonal antibody provides ready-made antibodies for immediate protection against disease. The RSV vaccine, Abrysvo™, is also available for pregnant individuals between 32 and 36 weeks of gestation who do not wish to or are not able to protect their infant using the monoclonal antibody. Administration of both the vaccine to the pregnant individual and a monoclonal antibody to the infant is NOT recommended except under specific circumstances in consultation with a health care provider. Beginning October 1, infants born during the 2025-26 RSV season will be offered Beyfortus® in hospital before discharge. Infants and children up to 24 months old at high-risk of severe illness and eligible pregnant individuals can also receive their immunization from their health care provider. For more information on the RSV prevention program, program eligibility and where to get immunized visit: https://peelregion.ca/health/diseases-infections/respiratory-syncytial-virus Older Adult High-Risk RSV vaccine program The older adult high-risk RSV program has expanded this year to include ALL individuals 75 years and older and individuals 60-74 years of age who meet certain high-risk criteria. Note: Studies on the RSV vaccine continue to show multi-year protection. Adults who have received a dose of RSV vaccine previously do not need to receive another dose. Peel Public Health is offering a limited number of RSV vaccine clinics for eligible individuals 60 years and older without a primary care provider. Appointments can be booked by calling 905-799-7700. For more information on the RSV prevention program and program eligibility criteria: https://peelregion.ca/health/diseases-infections/respiratory-syncytial-virus Influenza Vaccine This season the influenza vaccine continues to be recommended for all individuals 6 months and older. There has been a switch from quadrivalent inactivated vaccines to trivalent inactivated vaccines. For more information on the Influenza vaccine program and program eligibility criteria and recommendations visit: https://peelregion.ca/health/diseases-infections/flu COVID-19 Vaccine This season the COVID-19 vaccine continues to be recommended for all individuals 6 months and older. Both this season’s COVID-19 vaccine products (Moderna Spikevax and Pfizer BioNTech Comirnaty) were updated to target the LP.8.1 variant, replacing the previous KP.2 version of the vaccine. Both publicly funded COVID-19 vaccines are equivalent and are expected to provide the same protection against COVID-19 disease. For more information on the COVID-19 vaccine program, program eligibility criteria, and recommendations visit: https://peelregion.ca/health/vaccinations/covid-19-vaccines Influenza and COVID-19 vaccines are now available from participating providers for the general population. Beginning November 15, Peel Public Health will be offering a limited number of Influenza and COVID-19 vaccine clinics for children 6 months to 4 years of age. Eligible parents and caregivers accompanying children at their respiratory vaccine appointments can also receive Influenza and COVID-19 vaccines at Peel Public Health clinics. Check https://peelregion.ca/health/vaccinations for booking information. |
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