The respiratory virus season is comparable to last year with a level of activity that is not too intense in Gaspésie.
This is what the Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine Public Health Department indicates following the holiday season, which is conducive to the spread of viruses.
Several people report having contracted a virus on social networks.
“The data we have tells us that we are in it. It’s an overall normal season,” says the interim director, Dr. Christine Dufour Turbis.
It is difficult to get an exact picture since people who have mild symptoms do not consult.
“The number of calls for flu-like symptoms to the 811 service is not very high,” says the specialist.
COVID-19 is stable in the region after experiencing a surge in September.
“There was more COVID in September. It’s decreasing and it’s been stable for a few weeks in the region. There are a few outbreaks in certain CISSS establishments, but it is fairly stable,” comments Dr. Dufour Turbis.
The influenza virus arrived in mid-December.
“Currently, it is increasing. We have a rate comparable to a regular season. The 2024-2025 season does not stand out compared to other seasons at the moment,” she says.
The specialist expects a wave while the virus is present elsewhere in Quebec.
“We feel it’s coming,” adds the doctor.
The respiratory syncytial virus also made its appearance at the beginning of December and particularly affects very young children.
Whooping cough, which is a bacteria, is decreasing after experiencing high activity in 2024.
“Since the start of the school year, it has been decreasing. I know that there were a few cases during the holiday period, but according to the latest news, it was decreasing, but the disease is still present in the region,” analyzes Dr. Dufour Turbis.
Measles is making a reappearance in Quebec, but is absent from Gaspésie.
A provincial watch has been relaunched.
“In the region, we have good vaccination coverage. It is a force in the region. We have a vaccine that protects individuals well against measles. We are preparing regionally but for the moment, we are not affected at all, nor by the wave which affected elsewhere in 2024 in Quebec,” she emphasizes.
The flu and COVID-19 vaccination period continues.
Even late, the vaccine remains effective.
“Those we are targeting are people who have risk factors. Everyone can get vaccinated. These viruses mutate and we will not be able to eliminate them through vaccination. The objective of vaccination is to prevent complications of the disease and deaths in people at risk,” explains the specialist doctor who reminds that if people have any symptom of flu, it is better to stay at home and to wear a mask in public places.
Friday morning, emergency room attendance at hospital centers in the region is the best rate in Quebec.
According to Index Santé, the occupancy rate was 66% at the start of the day, while the provincial average was 125%.
The Sainte-Anne-des-Monts emergency room is the busiest in the region, with 100% seven people in the emergency room while the six stretchers are occupied and three have been occupied for 24 hours.
Maria is second with a rate of 80% with eight stretchers out of 10 occupied and three in the last 24 hours.
The Paspébiac CLSC is at 75%, Chandler at 63% and Gaspé at 50%. In these three cases, no patient had been on a stretcher for 24 hours.
No patients were on stretchers in Grande-Vallée and Murdochville.
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