⚠ Flu vaccine update: As of April 4, 2025, online appointments are no longer available for flu vaccine. Individuals seeking flu vaccine for children aged 6 months to under 5 years of age and individuals facing significant barriers to access, such as newcomers without OHIP, can contact Ottawa Public Health’s Virtual Immunization Hub for information on where to access the vaccine. The Virtual Immunization Hub is available at 613-580-6744 Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to noon and 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
Symptoms, Vaccination and Treatment
Understanding the symptoms, vaccination options, and treatment methods for respiratory viruses is crucial for effective prevention and care.
COVID-19 |
COVID-19 can cause mild cold-like symptoms to severe lung infections. Anti viral treatment is available for those at higher risk of severe disease and complications. Vaccines for COVID-19 are available. Learn more about COVID-19 symptoms, vaccination, and treatment. Helpful resources:
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Influenza (flu) |
Seasonal influenza, or ‘the flu’, is a common illness that spreads easily. It affects your nose, throat, and lungs and you can have systemic symptoms such as fever and muscle aches. You can catch the flu from tiny droplets when someone with the flu coughs or sneezes. You can also get it by touching surfaces with flu virus droplets and then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Learn more about flu symptoms, vaccination, and treatment. Helpful resources: |
RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) |
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a respiratory virus that infects the nose, throat, and lungs resulting in cold-like symptoms. It usually starts spreading in the fall and peaks in the winter months. RSV infection can happen at any age but is particularly severe in infants and older adults, and can cause significant lung infections requiring hospitalization especially in those with underlying health conditions such as asthma, chronic heart or lung disease, and those with weakened immune systems. Learn more about symptoms, prevention and treatment.Helpful resources: |
Common Cold |
The ‘common cold’ is caused by viruses (germs) that infect the nose, throat and sinuses causing upper respiratory tract infections. Colds are most common in the fall and winter when people are indoors and in close contact with each other. They're so common in fact that it's normal for children under five years old to have as many as 12 upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) in one year. Upper respiratory tract infections, like colds, cause symptoms in the nose, throat and sinuses. There is no vaccination available for the common cold. See this helpful video on ways to beat the common cold at home. You can also find more information on CHEO’s webpage. Helpful resources: |
Quick Facts
When to go to the emergency department |
If you or your child are in distress (significant trouble breathing, chest pain, fainting, difficulty to rouse, confusion or have significant worsening of any chronic symptoms), go to the nearest Emergency Department or call 9-1-1.
See this helpful factsheet from CHEO. |
What to do if you have symptoms |
Common symptoms of respiratory illnesses
What to do if you have symptoms
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Reducing the spread of respiratory illness |
How to Protect Yourself and Others from Respiratory Viruses (Public Health Ontario) |
Treatment of respiratory illness |
Most respiratory illnesses can be treated at home. Treatment for COVID-19 is available for those at higher risk of severe illness and must be taken within a few days of symptoms starting. Antiviral medications for influenza are available for those at higher risk of complication or those who are very sick with sever symptoms. These medications need to be prescribed by a health care provider. |
Ottawa Public Health (OPH) would like to know how you use the OPH Respiratory Dashboard and wastewater surveillance. We invite you to share your feedback through a brief 5-minute survey to inform OPH surveillance and communication. The survey will close at midnight on May 9. Your responses will be kept anonymous, private and confidential. If you have any questions about the survey, please reach out to OPH-Epidemiology@Ottawa.ca. Thank you for your participation!
Monitoring Respiratory Illness Activity
View our dashboard below to see the levels of respiratory viruses circulating in our community. The dashboard can help you make informed decisions for you and your family about risk of respiratory illness this season.
Having trouble viewing the report? Try the full screen mode.
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