PART 01

Respiratory infections are on the rise across Canada

Cases of respiratory infections are on the rise across Canada as the country faces what health officials are calling the "triple-threat" of COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, the latest respiratory virus monitoring report showed that the test positivity-rate for when it came to detecting influenza A was 6.44 per cent for the week of Oct. 29, compared to 2.66 per cent in the previous week. The test positivity rate for RSV was 7.0 per cent across Canada, up from 4.74 per cent in the previous week.

The uptick in infections has also led to hospital capacity becoming strained, especially at pediatric hospitals. In Ontario, hospitals are even being asked to admit teenage patients to adult intensive care units.

While RSV infections normally peak in December and January, PHAC's Oct. 29 Respiratory Virus Report warns the number of both RSV and Influenza A cases is “above expected levels for this time of year.”

Some health-care professionals attribute the spike in RSV infections to the fact that physical distancing and public health restrictions during the pandemic kept children from being infected with the virus for two years, so their immune systems have less experience fighting it now that those restrictions have lifted.

PART 02

What are COVID-19, the flu, and RSV？

COVID-19, the flu, and RSV are all highly contagious respiratory infections that are caused by viruses, each of which has different strains, variants, and subtypes.

COVID-19 is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus and its variants, which are still emerging.

As its name suggests, RSV is caused by a respiratory syncytial virus (the strains of which are classified into two groups: type A and type B).

In humans, the flu can be caused by several strains of influenza viruses, type A, B, and C—one or more of which can take precedence in a given flu season.3 Influenza A and its subtypes cause most outbreaks of the flu in people.

In the U.S., flu season typically starts by the end of October. While RSV is also typically a fall and winter virus, this year it started spreading in the U.S. over the summer. COVID-19 has been around all year since the pandemic started, but it might eventually take on a seasonal pattern.

All three respiratory illnesses carry the potential for serious symptoms and complications, and some people are more at risk for severe illness than others.

“Because symptoms can be similar, but treatments are not the same, it’s important for public health to educate the public and provide accurate information,” Sri Banerjee, MD, MPH, PhD, an epidemiologist at Walden University in Maryland.

PART 03

Nucleic acid testing can rapidly identify and diagnose pathogens

Respiratory tract infections are more complex, mostly manifesting as mixed infections of pathogens with more similar symptoms and epidemic characteristics, which cannot be accurately detected by traditional means. Nucleic acid testing, with its advantages of high sensitivity, high specificity, and good timeliness, can rapidly identify and diagnose pathogens, which is of great significance for assisting the clinical use of drugs.

Hecin focuses on the diagnosis of respiratory system pathogens. 2019-nCoV/IAV/IBV Nucleic Acid Test Kit (PCR- fluorescence probe method) and the RSV Nucleic Acid Test Kit (PCR-fluorescence probe method) developed by Hecin have already obtained the CE. These reagents are the characteristics of high sensitivity and simple operation and are compatible with the fluorescent PCR platform.

These reagents are made into a freeze-dried powder reagent, which have strong stability and can be transported and stored at room temperature, eliminating the trouble of low-temperature cold chain transportation and storage. The operation is simple and convenient, and the operator does not need complicated manual packaging operations, detectable.

Source：

What's the difference between COVID-19, RSV and influenza? By Tom Yun, the CTVNews.ca writer.

'We are so overwhelmed': Children's hospitals across Canada stretched as RSV cases, flu-like illnesses spike. By Megan DeLaire, the CTVNews.ca writer.

COVID-19, RSV, and the Flu Could Be a Triple Threat This Fall. By Fran Kritz, very well health.