The hospitals in Strathroy and Newbury are seeing increased patient volumes in their emergency departments right now as cold and flu season takes hold across the region along with a higher-than-usual need for hospital admissions.
Wait times are generally longer and more patients are showing up with flu-like symptoms.
Public Heath Ontario data shows a sharp increase in flu cases that has arrived earlier and is harder than in previous cold and flu seasons.
Middlesex-London Health Unit figures show test positivist rates for Influenza A, the current dominant strain, stood at 26.8 per cent at the end of November, up from 3.7 per cent at the end of October. Newer data is not available.
Health officials say the level of pressure seen so early in the season is concerning…and as people start mingling more over the holidays, it often gets worse.
Written by: L. Dickson