Lakelands Public Health Confirms First Influenza Case of 2026/27 Respiratory Season

(September 10, 2026) – Lakelands Public Health is confirming the first laboratory-confirmed case of Influenza A, commonly known as the flu, in the City of Peterborough. This is one month earlier than last year’s first case, which was confirmed in October. 

During the 2025/26 respiratory season, there were 1,104 laboratory-confirmed flu cases across the Lakelands Public Health region. The region includes the County of Haliburton, the City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, the City and County of Peterborough, and Alderville, Curve Lake, and Hiawatha First Nations.

“The early arrival of influenza is an important reminder that respiratory season is here, and we all have a role to play in prevention to protect ourselves, our loved ones, and our communities,” said Dr. Thomas Piggott, Medical Officer of Health and CEO with Lakelands Public Health. “Getting the flu vaccine when it becomes available is one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of severe illness, particularly for those who are more vulnerable.”

In Canada, flu season typically begins in early October and can last until May. With influenza arriving early this year, Lakelands Public Health is urging residents to take steps to help prevent the spread of this and other respiratory illnesses (which also include COVID-19, RSV and other illnesses) by:

• Staying Home When Sick: If you feel unwell, remain at home to avoid spreading illness. 
• Practicing Good Hygiene: Wash hands frequently, clean high-touch surfaces regularly, and use your elbow or arm to cover coughs and sneezes.
• Paying Attention to Indoor Air Quality: Spend time gathering outside, and when indoors consider opening windows/doors or running air filtration systems (including HVAC fans or in-room air cleaners).
• Wearing a Mask: Consider wearing a mask in indoor settings if you are recovering from a respiratory infection, if there is lots of transmission and you prefer to avoid infection, or if you are at higher risk of severe illness from a respiratory infection.
• Getting Vaccinated: Flu vaccine is expected to become available in October. The flu vaccine is free for anyone six months of age and older, with a focus on protecting older adults, young children, and pregnant individuals who are at higher risk of developing serious complications. Residents are also encouraged to speak with their primary care provider or pharmacist about eligibility for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID-19 vaccine.
• Lakelands Public Health will share more information about flu vaccine availability timelines once received from the province.

Coming Soon! Enhanced Respiratory Virus Wastewater Surveillance
Lakelands Public Health plans to relaunch respiratory virus wastewater surveillance in late fall 2026. The updated program will provide an early indication of respiratory virus activity across the region and complement other public health surveillance tools. 

Respiratory Infections Dashboard
To further support residents in staying informed and making data-driven health decisions, Lakelands Public Health has a Respiratory Infections Dashboard. This tool provides data on lab-confirmed cases for common respiratory infections, as well as information on outbreaks declared in the highest-risk settings.

Residents are encouraged to explore this dashboard to stay informed and support the health and well-being of our community.

Subscribe to our Dashboard Updates
You can now subscribe to receive email notifications whenever our Respiratory Infections, Infectious Disease, or Substance Harm Profile dashboards are updated.

Subscribe Here: LakelandsPH.ca/Subscribe

Coming Soon! Enhanced Respiratory Virus Wastewater Surveillance
Lakelands Public Health plans to relaunch respiratory virus wastewater surveillance in late fall 2026. The updated program will provide an early indication of respiratory virus activity across the region and complement other public health surveillance tools.

More Information

• Flu Shots and Respiratory Illness Prevention (Lakelands Public Health)
• FluWatch, Canada’s National Influenza Monitoring Program (Government of Canada)
• How to Protect Yourself and Others from Respiratory Viruses (Public Health Ontario)
• Protection from Respiratory Illnesses (Province of Ontario)

-30-