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Dr. Lyne Filiatrault Profile picture
Dr. Lyne Filiatrault
@DrFiliatrault
Former emergency physician, Vancouver Canadian Aerosol Transmission Coalition Safe Air, Safe Schools/ Air Sain, Ecoles Saines @DrFiliatrault@zeroes.ca
Jan 16 • 5 tweets • 1 min read
A must read article! Keeping the pressure on WHO is essential.
Ty @TheWHN for writing this key letter. «analogy offered by Prof. Finkel, that surgical masks are to respirators what typewriters are to computers, isn’t rhetorical excess. It’s an argument that continued use of outdated protective tech. in hi risk medical environments may soon be viewed as institutional malpractice.»
Jan 12 • 11 tweets • 6 min read
BC #influenza test positivity curve is at 24.7% for the week ending January 3, 2026. Next few weeks will show if it has peaked.
Canada's #influenza test positivity rate is at 27.1% for the same week. No province, no territory is spared.
health-infobase.canada.ca/respiratory-vi…Geographic trends for influenza in Canada with data for the week ending January 3, 2026. The entire country is dark blue for 20-29.9% test positivity rate for influenza. Quebec has the highest test positivity rate for flu with 31.4% The BC influenza test positivity rate seems to be turning down at 24.7%. Time will tell if this trend continues. In BC, both Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal regions have widespread #influenza activity.
health-infobase.canada.ca/respiratory-vi…Map of influenza/ILI activity by reporting region in Canada, week 53 (week ending January 3, 2026) Shows that Vancouver Coastal and Fraser regions of BC have widespread influenza activity, as do most of Alberta and the central-east region of Ontario. Several regions in Quebec also have widespread influenza such as the west and centre regions, Montreal and Laval as well as Quebec and Chaudieres-Appalaches region.
Jan 8 • 6 tweets • 4 min read
14 🇨🇦 pediatric hospitals participate in viral surveillance program. Incl. tests done as part of routine care for children in ED, on inpatient units & in ICU. In other words, not all children presenting to ED or admitted at pediatric hospital are tested.
dashboard.sprint-kids.caThe Surveillance Program for the Rapid Identification and Tracking of Infectious Diseases in Kids tracks real-time trends in respiratory viruses among children seeking hospital care across Canada. The SPRINT-KIDS network includes 14 Canadian pediatric tertiary-care hospitals from coast-to-coast with sites in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia & Newfoundland. Data from respiratory virus testing performed as part of routine care is also contributed to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), and published as the Canadian Respiratory Virus Surveil... Test positivity for #influenza A hit 50% and now down to 41%. However schools & childcare centres have reopened...
So we'll see, what the next few weeks of data show.

dashboard.sprint-kids.caTable 1. Highlights Changes over the past 2 weeks This table reflects the data collected over the past 2 weeks. As noted above, which pathogens tested for is based on clinical care; as such the number of tests performed for each pathogen varies. The column entitled ‘change’ reflects the difference in the percent positive between the most recent week and the preceding week, with red indicating an increase in the percent positive, green indicating a decrease and blue indicative of no change. For the week of Dec 28 to January 3 2026, Influenza A test positivity has dropped from a peak of 50% t...
Jan 3 • 12 tweets • 4 min read
It is the season of #influenza outbreaks in BC's LTC homes & in a few hospitals.
So glad our award winning BC PHO has reinstated masks (#N95) in healthcare & LTC!
What, she hasn't! What is she waiting for?
#bcpoli Image Did you know that the motto for @Fraserhealth is Better health. Best in health care.
Not sure about this, but @Fraserhealth does get high marks for transparent reporting of outbreaks. Image
Dec 30, 2025 • 13 tweets • 5 min read
Memo sent to @Fraserhealth medical staff & affiliated healthcare providers on November 20, 2025. Clearly states the importance of #influenza vaccination to minimize impact on health & on the healthcare system.
CMHO fails to reinstate masking in healthcare.
No #CleanAir Message from the Chief Medical Health Officer of Fraser Health on November 20, 2025. Dear colleagues, Respiratory viruses are starting to circulate in our communities. Now is the time to get your flu shots & encourage your loved ones, patients, clients and residents to do so. Protect what matters: yourself, those you care for, & the health system In my message on October 9, I shared how the flu season predictably increases strain on our health care system, increases wait times in emergency rooms (ERs), keeps people home from work & school, and is directly responsible for hospitalizations an... As of November 16 2025, 17% of the @Fraserhealth region population was vaxxed against flu, with 29% of children & 39% of those 65+
As for healthcare providers in @Fraserhealth 34% had been. The target is 80%. We have some ways to go • As of November 16, 2025, 17 per cent of our population in the Fraser Health region have been vaccinated against influenza, including 29 per cent of children and 39 per cent of the population over 65 years old. • Throughout the region, 34% of self-identified health care workers have been vaccinated against influenza. This includes Fraser Health staff and medical staff, as well as community-based physicians, paramedics, allied health and others. Within Fraser Health, on-site clinics and peer immunization reached 3,426 staff. The vaccine remains effective •You may hav...
Dec 16, 2025 • 8 tweets • 3 min read
@GosiaGasperoPhD Here is the made in BC irrational approach to influenza and other airborne respiratory (and many systemic) viruses.
Video from 17 years ago on @CDCofBC website shows
influenza is airborne.
bccdc.ca/Health-Info-Si… @GosiaGasperoPhD @CDCofBC From 17 years ago and posted on @CDCofBC influenza webpage.

Nov 13, 2025 • 5 tweets • 2 min read
With an absent CDC and mismatched 'subclade K' flu strain, experts face upcoming season with uncertainty cidrap.umn.edu/influenza-vacc…
@mrmickme2 @RajlabN @nucleocpsoid @richardhirschs1 utppublishing.com/doi/10.3138/ja…OPEN ACCESS Research Article 31 October 2025 Emergence of seasonal influenza A(H3N2) variants with immune escape potential warrants enhanced molecular and epidemiological surveillance for the 2025–2026 season Authors: Suzana Sabaiduc, Samantha E Kaweski, Lea Separovic, Ruimin Gao, Charlene Ranadheera, Nathalie Bastien, and Danuta M Skowronski Danuta.Skowronski@bccdc.caAUTHOR INFORMATION AND AFFILIATIONS Publication: Journal of the Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease Canada Advance Access https://doi.org/10.3138/jammi-2025-0025
Aug 27, 2025 • 6 tweets • 3 min read
This is big!
Please share widely.
@brish_ti @moirawyton @PennyDaflos @kul_akshay_ @CBCNews @nicireland_news @CdnPressNews @TheTyee @picardonhealth @globeandmail @juliemaclellan
globenewswire.com/news-release/2…https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/08/25/3138781/0/en/Protecting-healthcare-workers-protects-us-all.html Protecting healthcare workers protects us all: Canadian coalition gets overwhelming support backing stronger protections for healthcare workers in updated CSA respirator standard August 25, 2025 14:04 ET | Source: Canadian Aerosol Transmission Coalition Share TORONTO, Aug. 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canadian healthcare workers deserve the same on-the-job protections as workers in every other sector — and new national standards may finally deliver them. “These revisions to the CSA standard will strengthen protection for healthcare workers as well as patients,” said @DickZoutman, retired ID physician & professor @queensu. “It’s an important contribution to Canada’s overall preparedness for future pandemics.” More than 1,700 physicians, nurses, scientists, engineers, occupational health specialists, civil society groups and individuals representing the immunocompromised, people living with long COVID and those who care about public health, have signed a statement supporting proposed updates to the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Z94.4 worker respiratory protection standard. Key support also came from the Canadian Labour Congress and its individual and provincial affiliates (representing more than three million workers and most of the country’s unionized healthcare workers, including the Can...
Apr 8, 2025 • 11 tweets • 5 min read
Looking back at hospital admissions with Viral Resp. Infections to understand: "sick all the time"
Weekly admissions to 78 🇨🇦hospitals in 10 provinces & 1 territory participating in VRI Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program
All Ages up to 29-03-2025
health-infobase.canada.ca/cnisp/viral-re…Graph of weekly incidence of patients hospitalized with Viral Respiratory Infection per 1,000 patient admissions for All ages. Shows COVID-19 admissions in Red, RSV admissions in Blue and Influenza A admissions in Yellow. Influenza A admissions have peaked above last years admissions and are on the way down. Influenza B admissions, light Blue is rising but at a very low level still. Data is up to and including the week of 23-03-2025. Looking at the same data for Adults only.
Spring-Summer-Fall #Covid
Influenza season was late with admissions peaking higher than last year. Graph of weekly incidence of patients hospitalized with Viral Respiratory Infection per 1,000 patient admissions for Adults 18 years and over. Shows COVID-19 admissions in Red, RSV admissions in Blue and Influenza A admissions in Yellow. Influenza A admissions have peaked above last years admissions and are on the way down. Influenza B admissions, light Blue is rising but at a very low level still. Data is up to and including the week of 23-03-2025.
Mar 16, 2025 • 22 tweets • 7 min read
Attended #LongCovidAwarenessDay2025 at Vancouver Art Gallery.
Did not see Dr. Bonnie Henry nor other public health leaders
Did not see anyone from @CDCofBC
Did not see BC premier @Dave_Eby
Did not see BC Health Minister @Josie_Osborne nor any other political parties.
#bcpoli Slide title: International Long Covid Awareness Day 5 Years of Long Covid Cure Long Covid Now Saturday March 15th 2025 Raise Awareness with Us Toronto-Quebec City- Vancouver Luckily public came to show support for 3.5 million Canadians with Long Covid. (June 2023 Stats Can)
3.5 million is not the true number. No one is counting. That's intentional, part of the "what you don't know, don't see, can't hurt you."
Except #LongCovid can & it will hurt you 2 hearts made of the pillowcases of people with Long Covid with their stories written on. Text between the two hearts reads, Let's make long Covid so visible it can't be ignored.
Dec 20, 2024 • 11 tweets • 5 min read
Not just in Alberta, also happening in BC. RSV tests positivity rate in Canada sits at 9.5%
for the week ending Dec. 14, 2024
health-infobase.canada.ca/respiratory-vi…Geographic trends across Canada in percentage of tests positive for RSV for week ending December 14, 2024. BC and AB are neck and neck at 10%, Quebec leads at 12.6%. The average test positivity rate now for RSV in Canada is 9.5%
Sep 27, 2024 • 5 tweets • 3 min read
Seems like the BC CDC is resuming weekly reporting.
Several changes have been introduced to their various dashboards.
bccdc.ca/health-profess… Virus in circulation in BC now in the adult population.
These do not represent number of cases.
Data up to Sept. 21, 2024
bccdc.shinyapps.io/respiratory_pa…
Number of positive samples by virus in BC: All ages. Clearly shows Covid is most prevalent and positive samples are rising. Then comes Entero/Rhinovirus, positive samples are also trending up and in 3rd place is influenza. Data is up to September 21, 2024.
Sep 10, 2024 • 8 tweets • 3 min read
Today I listened to the presentation of this RECOVER Study published in JAMA:
Recording will be available in ~2 weeks:

A few slides stood out for me. jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/…
recovercovid.org/r3-seminar-ser…
Slide from recoverCOVID.org Characterizing Long COVID in Children and Adolescents: First Main Analysis of the RECOVER-Pediatrics Observational Cohort Study. First off, we can debate the prevalence but one thing is clear even at the lower end, LC in children & adolescents is not a rare disease. Prevalence of Long COVID in children • Early reports suggest that 4 to 58% of infected children have persistent symptoms • More recent meta-analyses • High variability in terms of prevalence (2 to 70%) Pellegrino R. Eur J Pediatr. 2022 • Prevalence of Long COVID was 25.2% Lopez-Leon S et al. Sci Rep. 2022 • Prevalence of pediatric Long COVID at 90 days post infection to be 2% to 5%. Funk et al, JAMA Open Network, 2022 Even at the low end 2 to 10%: 1.4 million children in the United States • If 10% of 65 million with positive antibodies: >6 million A disease considered rare when it affects <...
Mar 7, 2024 • 13 tweets • 4 min read
By refusing to accept that SARS-CoV-2 spreads through aerosols, all 🇨🇦public health officials put children & educators [and their families & communities] at risk of repeated COVID infections, and now measles in schools.
What's next, TB? By doubling down on droplet spread of SARS2, 🇨🇦public health officials have prevented improvements to schools' indoor air quality, that would have also helped against measles.
Instead in 2024, in 🇨🇦, the public is told by public health to wash their hands. It's a disgrace! BC CDC poster on Hand Hygiene to protect against Coronavirus COVID-19. Photographed recently in washroom at dental office in BC.
Dec 12, 2023 • 13 tweets • 5 min read
Alerte: Mésinformation!
@LP_LaPresseici.radio-canada.ca/info/videos/1-… Dr. KW : « la pandémie est définitivement finie »
Vrai ou Faux?
Faux! Voir le graphique ci-dessous.
Source: inspq.qc.ca/covid-19/donne…
Image
Jul 6, 2023 • 10 tweets • 3 min read
Attended this talk yesterday.
@BlairWilliams26 presentation particularly resonated
with me. From 19:15 to 28:56
It offers a path to possibly get out of this unsustainable pandemic situation.
Source @BlairWilliams26
Shows the disconnect of what acceptable number of Covid-deaths were for Australian & what played out.
Reminded me of last fall's survey stating British Columbians most willing in Canada to return to masking, and yet BC PHO & #bcpoli let tripledemic rip.
May 26, 2023 • 29 tweets • 6 min read
Worth dissecting /via @globeandmail theglobeandmail.com/canada/british… First off thank you to @MoriartyLab who is the only person providing early indicators for people in Canada to be able assess their risk of Covid infection in their province/territory. Canadian Covid-19 Forecast:...
May 25, 2023 • 4 tweets • 2 min read
There is no doubt that physicians who sign an open letter or speak out can face retaliation. Retaliation takes many forms: your OR time gets cut, you're called into dept head's office, hospital privileges are threatened... | Globalnews.ca globalnews.ca/news/9720440/s… What normally happens is a courageous senior physician will step up and be the face for the group, as they are at the end of their career and can walk away. Like happened here. Thank you Dr. Urbain Ip.
Jan 29, 2023 • 8 tweets • 4 min read
A good read from @shazmamithani
thestar.com/opinion/contri… via @torontostar "Every Canadian needs access to a family doctor. Governments need to step up and commit to doing what’s right for the system, instead of focusing on Band-Aid solutions."
Jan 28, 2023 • 7 tweets • 4 min read
There has been a lot of discussion on twitter about who is being and who should be interviewed by media when it comes to #Covid_19 "experts". It is easy for everyone to be biased, follow on twitter or listen to, interview those who think like us, whom we relate to. Unfortunately that can cause us to focus on single aspect of a complex problem. It can create large dark spots in our vision, and gaps in our understanding.
Dec 5, 2022 • 5 tweets • 3 min read
"We have not had a single 🇨🇦 MHO & Dr. Tam say the word "Airborne! If you misdirect policy on the underpinnings of a crisis... not being able to talk about airborne transmission for #COVID, you are going to fail! Because science underpins everything... We are failing." @jvipondmd "If the physics, biology and chemistry underpinning your policy decisions do not support your policy decisions, you're gonna fail, and we are failing."