MEDICINE HAT – A respiratory illness outbreak has been declared at seven schools within the Medicine Hat Public School Division (MHPSD), occurring alongside a sharp rise in influenza virus levels detected in the city's wastewater.

Meanwhile, you will wait seven hours to see a doctor at the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital (MHRH).

The outbreak, announced in a notice to parents on December 12, 2025, is currently affecting the following elementary schools:

George Davison School
Dr. Ken Sauer Fine Arts School
River Heights School
Medicine Hat Christian School
Crestwood STEM School
Ross Glen School
Herald School

There have been no reports of any outbreaks in the Catholic or Prairie Rose School Divisions at time of publication but it stands to reason they are also affected.

While officials have not identified a single virus as the cause of the school clusters, wastewater surveillance data for Medicine Hat shows a significant spike in Influenza A, with recent levels measured at 3.8348 copies/mL. COVID-19 viral levels remain present but are notably lower than in previous years at 0.0593 copies/mL, aligning with the absence of significant COVID-19 outbreaks in the city so far this season.

The Broader Context: Vaccination and Virus Match

The local viral activity is set against a backdrop of concerning public health trends in the region. The South Zone of Alberta, which includes Medicine Hat, is reported to have lower-than-desired immunization rates for respiratory illnesses. Public health experts note that vaccine hesitancy, partly driven by residual "anti-vax" sentiment from the pandemic, continues to discourage some individuals from getting their annual flu and updated COVID-19 shots.

Compounding this issue, early indicators suggest this year's formulated influenza vaccine may not be a perfect match for the currently dominant circulating strains, potentially reducing its effectiveness in preventing infection, though it is still expected to lessen severity.

Official AHS Guidance for Parents

Given the mix of viruses in circulation, Alberta Health Services (AHS) has provided clear criteria for when children can return to school:

Children can return to school when they:

Have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication (e.g., acetaminophen or ibuprofen) and their symptoms have improved.
Feel well enough to resume regular activities.

Managing Symptoms and When to Seek Help

For most children, respiratory illnesses can be managed at home. However, parents are urged to contact Health Link at 811 or seek medical care if a child shows signs of more serious illness, such as: