Thursday, November 06, 2025
Influenza confirmed in Public Health Sudbury & Districts’ service area
The first locally-acquired flu case of the 2025-2026 influenza (flu) season has been reported within Public Health Sudbury & Districts’ service area. Residents are reminded to protect themselves and others from getting sick with respiratory infections.
“As flu season begins, getting your flu shot is free, and an easy and effective way to protect yourself, your loved ones, co-workers, and community,” said Christina Baier, a manager in Public Health’s Health Protection Division. “The COVID-19 and influenza vaccines are available at many locations throughout the community, including health care provider offices, walk-in clinics, and participating local pharmacies (Ministry of Health).”
Influenza is a highly contagious infection and can cause fever, cough, muscle aches, and fatigue. Children may also get stomach upset. In some people, like young children, older adults, and those with underlying medical conditions, influenza can cause severe illness, like pneumonia. Sadly, thousands of Canadians die of influenza each year—both influenza and COVID-19 are among the top 10 causes of death for Canadians.
The precautions below are always encouraged to protect yourself and others from infection:
- Stay up to date with your vaccinations. Receive your COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines as soon as you are eligible.
- Improve the ventilation in indoor spaces by keeping windows open, when possible, and having heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems set to “on” rather than “auto”.
- Consider wearing a well-fitted mask, especially in crowded or poorly-ventilated public settings.
- Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue and discard used tissues immediately in the garbage, and then wash your hands.
- Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly for at least 15 seconds.
- Follow any requirements for masking or other protective measures in hospitals, long-term care homes, and other health care spaces.
Many viruses cause respiratory infections. Regardless of the cause of the infection, if you are sick, take the following measures to protect those around you:
- Stay home until symptoms are improving for 24 hours (or 48 hours if you had nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea) and no fever is present. In addition, wear a mask for a total of 10 days after symptom onset.
- Avoid non-essential visits to higher risk settings such as hospitals and long-term care.
Public Health’s Respiratory Illness Surveillance Dashboard provides information about local activity levels of respiratory illness, including COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Public Health also reports data for active outbreaks in the Sudbury and Manitoulin districts. This information is specific to hospitals, long-term care homes, retirement homes, and congregate living settings.
For more information on respiratory illnesses (such as influenza, COVID-19, and RSV) and vaccines, please visit phsd.ca or call Public Health Sudbury & Districts at 705.522.9200 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200).
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