A treacherous combination of icy sidewalks and an aggressive flu virus has placed Montreal's healthcare system under severe strain this week. Monday's freezing rain sent at least seven people to a downtown emergency room with serious injuries, while provincial data reveals this year's influenza wave has already surpassed last year's highest point.
Emergency Rooms Overwhelmed by Falls and Flu
The emergency department at the Centre hospitalier de l’université de Montréal (CHUM) was a focal point of the crisis. By Monday afternoon, 159 patients crowded its waiting room. The situation was so dire that the average stay for patients on gurneys stretched to nearly 17 hours. A hospital spokesperson confirmed they were treating seven cases of injuries directly linked to the freezing rain, including concussions and fractures.
Véronique Wilson, coordinator of emergency services for Santé Québec, reported that other hospitals across the city were also inundated with patients who had fallen on ice. "We've been seeing a lot of falls and calls to our ambulance services," Wilson stated, noting that Urgences-Santé in the Montreal-Laval region was particularly busy.
Flu Season Hits Harder and Earlier
Compounding the pressure from weather-related injuries is an exceptionally virulent flu season. According to the latest report from Quebec's public health institute (INSPQ), the province recorded 6,169 flu cases for the week ending December 20. This staggering figure dwarfs the 472 cases reported during the same week last year, meaning the current infection wave has already eclipsed last year's peak.
Health experts attribute the severity to a specific flu strain: H3N2, belonging to subclade K. This year's seasonal vaccine is not a perfect match for this strain, but officials strongly recommend vaccination anyway, as it still provides significant protection against severe outcomes and hospitalization.
Hospitals Issue Pleas to the Public
Faced with overwhelming demand, major hospital networks are asking the public for cooperation. The McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) urged people to avoid emergency rooms for non-urgent problems. Instead, they recommend calling the Info-Santé 811 hotline or consulting a family doctor. "Each year, close to 50 per cent of emergency room visits are for non-urgent problems," said MUHC spokesperson Anne-Claire Fournier, explaining that such visits delay care for critically ill patients.
The scale of the overload is stark. The Royal Victoria Hospital's ER, part of the MUHC, was operating at 221 per cent of its capacity, with average wait times on a stretcher exceeding 25 hours.
While pediatric ERs at Ste-Justine and the Montreal Children's Hospital reported lower occupancy rates, officials caution that flu activity remains high among children and teens. Christine Bouthillier of the Montreal Children's provided clear guidance for parents: seek immediate ER care if a child is excessively sleepy, cannot keep fluids down, shows signs of dehydration, has difficulty breathing, or is a feverish baby under three months old.
With more icy weather possible and the flu season yet to peak, health authorities warn that the intense pressure on Montreal's hospitals is likely to continue in the coming days.
