Windsor-Essex experienced its worst flu season in a decade according the the region's medical officer of health.
During a report to the Windsor Essex County Health Unit board last week, Dr. Mehdi Aloosh indicted most of the cases were confirmed as Influenza A.
"It was reflected in hospital wait times, the [Emergency Department], we all observed that in the last season," said Dr. Aloosh.
During the 2025–2026 respiratory illness season, Windsor and Essex County recorded 1,279 influenza cases, representing a rate of 255.4 cases per 100,000 population. During the same time period the provincial reported influenza case rate was 235 cases per 100,000 population.
There were 249 hospital admissions due to influenza influenza, representing a rate of 49.7 admissions per 100,000 population.
While the health unit distributed 83,610 influenza vaccine doses in 2025-2026, Dr. Aloosh estimates only about 25 per cent of the population was fully vaccinated.
"There is a lot of room to increase the uptake of the vaccine and prevent something like this to happen," said Dr. Aloosh.
In 2024-2025, the health unit distributed 79,140 doses.
