Page 5 of 8: Update on respiratory virus testing

From: Infection, Prevention and Control 

The seasonal influenza season has ended, with case numbers falling close to zero in recent weeks. Therefore, influenza testing will not be necessary for most patients presenting with febrile respiratory illnesses. Testing for influenza A and B remains available and should still be performed for patients presenting with an influenza-like illness of sufficient severity to require hospital admission.

Avian Influenza

We continue to hear about highly pathogenic avian influenza, also known as H5N1, globally. While the risk to the general population remains low, it is important to be aware of and conduct testing where appropriate. The Ministry of Health recently released a memo in regards to avian influenza – some key points follow:

       1. Influenza testing remains available at Unity Health and should be considered if there is a concern for avian influenza. The test utilized for avian influenza is the same for seasonal influenza.

       2. Reasons to suspect highly pathogenic avian influenza may include:

• A patient presenting with severe influenza or influenza-like symptoms
• A patient presenting with influenza-like illness who has exposure to infected birds, mammals (especially cows and goats) or contaminated environmental surfaces in the past 14 days prior to illness onset. This may include exposures from hunting, hobby farming, agricultural industry, consumption of raw/unpasteurized dairy products, undercooked meat from affected animals, and close contact with affected animals including poultry, wild game, livestock and other mammals.

3. Currently, the Ministry of Health does not recommend universal screening of patients with influenza/influenza-like symptoms in the community or Emergency Department for potential exposures to avian influenza due to the low risk to the public.

For patients that test positive for influenza A, our Infection, Prevention and Control (IPAC) team will be liaising with the treating clinicians to determine if there were any high risk bird or mammalian exposures. However, all clinicians are asked to report suspected cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza with a compatible 

COVID-19

The prevalence of COVID-19 is much lower than during the height of the respiratory virus season, but COVID-19 continues to circulate in the community. COVID-19 testing remains available at Unity Health and is recommended in patients with an acute respiratory illness for whom treatment or admission is warranted. Testing for COVID-19 in patients with isolated, mild symptoms (such as a sore throat or runny nose) is not recommended. Testing for COVID-19 is also not required for patients with isolated fever, if the cause of the fever is known.