Respiratory Illness Data Tools | Huron Perth Public Health

Use the following tools to learn more about respiratory illness activity locally, provincially and across Canada.

2024-25 Respiratory Season

For summary information on COVID-19, influenza, RSV and other seasonal respiratory viruses, please visit the Ontario Respiratory Virus Tool (information below).

Tracking respiratory activity in Huron and Perth Counties

The health system’s readiness and response planning for respiratory illness season, including surveillance and vaccination efforts, is part of a regular annual cycle. [ Seasonal Respiratory Pathogens Readiness and Response Planning Guide | Ontario Ministry of Health]

This planning cycle typically runs from the first of September in the current year until the end of August the following year. (For example, Sept. 1, 2023 – Aug. 31, 2024). For the 2024 – 2025 season, the cycle started Sunday August 25 (week #35).

Ontario Respiratory Virus Tool

The Ontario Respiratory Virus Tool provides comprehensive epidemiological information of respiratory virus activity in Ontario, including COVID-19, influenza and other respiratory viruses. In this tool you can find:

Weekly case trends
Laboratory testing
Outbreaks

The tool also contains additional COVID-19-specific data including:

Outcomes (hospital admissions, deaths)
COVID-19 vaccine coverage (up to December 2, 2023, after which vaccine data are not being updated).

Ontario Respiratory Virus Tool

Method 1 - view from the map

Scroll part way down the page until you reach the light blue menu with purple buttons.
The buttons are labelled Overall, COVID-19, Influenza and Map of PHUs.
Select the Map of PHUs button
On the map, select Huron-Perth region. You can select different indicators (e.g. cases, vaccines) in the top left corner.

Method 2 - filter data in the graphs

Scroll part way down the page until you reach the dark blue menu that says Summary, Cases, Lab Testing, Outbreaks, COVID-19 vaccines
When you select Cases, Lab Testing, Outbreaks or COVID-19 vaccines, you will have the option in the top left corner to "Filter data in the graph below by Public Health Unit"
Select Huron Perth Public Health from the drop down menu.

Gathering Surveillance Data

HPPH receives information about influenza and COVID-19 activity in the following ways:

Lab-confirmed cases submitted through local doctors and hospitals
Outbreaks at local hospitals, long-term care homes and other facilities

Because not everyone is eligible for influenza or COVID-19 testing, the number of lab-confirmed cases of either virus is only a small portion of people who may actually have influenza or COVID-19.

The number and trend of lab-confirmed cases being is a reflection of the level of influenza and COVID-19 activity in Huron and Perth, however, the actual number of cases in our region is likely higher.

Visit the Outbreak Summary Report 2024-25 for an ongoing list of open and closed enteric and respiratory illness outbreaks in Huron-Perth long-term care homes, retirement homes, and hospitals.

Additional respiratory illness data sources and reports

COVID-19 epidemiology update: Summary | Health Canada
Flu (influenza): FluWatch surveillance | Health Canada
Health Datasets | Government of Ontario