2025-2026 respiratory season preparedness
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Advisory Alert
To: Local Health System Partners
October 8, 2025
Respiratory pathogens risk outlook
This respiratory season is expected to be similar to the previous 2 seasons, although there is a possibility of unusual timing in peaks of activity. There remains a heightened risk of greater impact on children and older adult populations.
Updated seasonal respiratory guide
The Ministry of Health has released an updated Seasonal Respiratory Pathogens Guide available in English (PDF) and French (PDF). The Ministry has also released a respiratory surge exercise in English (PDF) and accompanying facilitators guide in English (PDF), to allow health system partners to test their readiness for the upcoming respiratory season.
Public Health requests that partners review the guide and ensure that their preparedness plans are up to date. In addition, here are specific highlights from the Guide:
1. Immunization plan:
a. Review immunization policies and coordinate immunizations as per Ministry guidance and recommendations. Guidance and information on fall vaccines from Public Health can be found here.
b. Promote immunization, including against influenza, COVID-19, and, for those who are eligible, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
c. Report any adverse events following immunization to Public Health (Public Health Ontario, PDF). Guidance and information for reporting can be found here.
2. Therapeutics:
a. Discuss treatment options (such as Paxlovid or Tamiflu) with clients in advance of a potential infection.
b. Develop plans for accessing treatment to ensure rapid access, including consideration of pre-positioning and medical directives.
3. Testing:
a. Follow specimen collection and transport guidance (Public Health Ontario).
b. Ensure specimen collection kits are not expired. Contact Public Health Ontario to order your kit (Public Health Ontario).
4. Infection prevention and control (IPAC) measures:
a. Maintain and monitor personal protective equipment (PPE) stock for staff and visitors.
b. Ensure staff are aware and trained in PPE use. Public Health Ontario offers PPE training videos, including videos for appropriate donning and doffing.
c. Review setting-specific outbreak readiness plans and guidance on IPAC.
5. Reporting to Public Health:
a. Report cases and outbreaks to the local Medical Officer of Health as required by the Health Protection and Promotion Act using the facility outbreak line list.
Updated infectious disease protocol
The Ministry of Health has also released the updated Respiratory Infection Outbreaks in Institutions and Public Hospitals, of the Infectious Disease Protocol (Ministry of Health, PDF) (in English only). Updates include:
- An outbreak with a single confirmed case of influenza (with additional results pending), is treated as a confirmed outbreak to facilitate access and timely initiation of antiviral prophylaxis.
- Approved and validated tests now include:
- standard or rapid (shell vial) culture for respiratory viruses
- Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) for respiratory viruses:
- laboratory based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test
- Health Canada approved molecular point-of-care test or rapid molecular test
- Health Canada-approved rapid antigen tests for respiratory viruses
For more information
For questions about respiratory illness or outbreak reporting, call 705.522.9200, ext. 267 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200). For immunization inquiries, call 705.522.9200, ext. 458 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200). For questions about Infection Prevention and Control, email IPAC_Hub@phsd.ca. Public Health is available Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or after hours and on weekends at 705.688.4366.
Sincerely,
Original Signed By
Emily Groot, MD, MPH, FRCPC
Acting Associate Medical Officer of Health
Note: All Advisory Alerts are found on our website.
This item was last modified on October 8, 2025