Flu season may be off to an early start in Brant, Haldimand and Norfolk counties and the city of Brantford Grand Erie Public Health, the health unit responsible for the area, said they have received their first laboratory-confirmed case of influenza A for the 2026/2027 respiratory illness season. In the 2025/2026 season, there were 1,499 laboratory-confirmed cases within the health unit’s jurisdiction. “While flu activity is typically highest later in the fall and winter, this first confirmed case is a reminder that influenza is already present in our community,” Dr. Jason Malenfant, Grand Erie Public Health’s medical officer of health, said in a news release. “The flu can be serious, particularly for infants, older adults, and people with underlying health conditions. Getting vaccinated remains the best way to protect yourself and help reduce the spread of illness to those around you.”
