Flu cases in Canada rise above three-season high

New data shows influenza cases are still surging across the country, surpassing the highest positivity rate recorded in Canada over the last three seasons.

The Public Health Agency of Canada provided a brief update Tuesday on the viral season. It said the proportion of flu tests that came back positive hit 32.4 per cent in the week ending Dec. 20, up from nearly 28 per cent the previous week.

Infectious disease and public health experts have warned that this season could be the worst in recent years. The new data show the rate of illness has reached a grim milestone, overtaking the previous three-season high of 27.6 per cent by nearly five percentage points.