Stay Informed: The New Dashboard Launches!

On September 3rd, Grand Erie Public Health (GEPH) introduced its exciting new surveillance dashboard for the upcoming 2025-26 season. This innovative tool monitors respiratory illnesses across Brantford, Brant, Haldimand, and Norfolk Counties.

According to Jessica Lang, GEPH’s manager of population health assessment, "The dashboard aims to keep the community and healthcare providers informed about weekly activity levels of COVID-19, influenza, and other respiratory viruses." This means timely information right at your fingertips!

Real-Time Insights: What the Dashboard Reveals!

Created by skilled epidemiologists, the dashboard offers a snapshot of respiratory virus trends, currently rating activity as 'low.' As of last week, no COVID, flu, or RSV patients were occupying hospital beds. A comforting sign for the community!

Each Wednesday by 2 p.m., the dashboard is refreshed, showcasing trends over the past year. It reveals that influenza cases peaked in January and February, while COVID outbreaks surged in September, November, and December of last year.

Current Outbreaks: What’s Happening Now?

As of September 22, there are nine ongoing outbreaks affecting 46 individuals in the GEPH region, including COVID-19, rhinovirus, and parainfluenza. Four additional outbreaks remain unidentified.

Protection Measures: Safeguarding Your Health!

GEPH emphasizes the importance of implementing "multiple layers of protection" during the respiratory season. Here are their top tips:

— Stay current with your COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations.

— Avoid visiting high-risk places like hospitals when feeling unwell.

— Practice good hygiene by washing your hands frequently and coughing into your elbow.

— Stay home if you're sick and consider wearing a well-fitted mask if you must be around others.

— Consult your healthcare provider about testing and antiviral options, especially if you're at risk of severe illness.

They also encourage everyone to think about the activities they attend and the locations, especially concerning the risk of respiratory viruses.

Stay Connected for Updates!

To dive deeper into the trends or to check weekly reports, visit [the Grand Erie Public Health dashboard site](www.bchu.org/statistics-and-reports/seasonal-respiratory-surveillance). For real-time outbreak updates, head to [the outbreak status page](www.bchu.org/statistics-and-reports/outbreak-status). Stay safe and informed this respiratory season!