Ottawa's children's hospital says it's concerned about a significant rise in the number of flu cases it's seen recently.

CHEO said Wednesday that eight times more children tested positive for the flu in November 2025 than in November 2024.

Twice as many children had to be hospitalized with the flu last month compared to the previous November, it said.

That can manifest as a potentially dangerous fever or trouble breathing, according to Angela Crawley, a senior scientist at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute.

Most kids coming to CHEO have not had their annual flu vaccine, the hospital added.

CHEO is asking everyone to get the vaccine to support community health and protect vulnerable people, including children under five who have smaller airways and weaker immune systems. WATCH

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