Pneumonia hospitalizations surged dramatically last year, according to new data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). The data reveals a concerning trend: a nearly 33% increase in pneumonia hospitalizations across Canada. The impact was particularly severe for children aged 5 to 17, with hospitalizations more than doubling compared to the previous year. Dr. Jesse Papenburg, an infectious disease specialist at Montreal Children's Hospital, confirms that healthcare workers had anticipated this surge, as the 2024-2025 respiratory illness season was unusually busy for pneumonia cases. Papenburg attributes the rise to last year's severe flu season, which can lead to viral pneumonia, and the prevalence of mycoplasma pneumoniae, a bacteria causing 'walking pneumonia' with milder symptoms. However, the sheer number of cases resulted in more hospitalizations than usual. The CIHI data shows that pneumonia hospitalizations exceeded pre-pandemic levels across all age groups. Dr. Lynora Saxinger, an infectious diseases specialist at the University of Alberta, suggests that the lack of immunity to new bacterial strains during the pandemic may also contribute to the rise in pneumonia cases. The data covers hospitalizations from April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025. Children and youth experienced a 143% increase in hospitalizations, from 2,698 to 6,547 patients. Adults aged 18 to 64 saw a 34% increase, and seniors over 65 had a 22% rise in hospitalizations. Papenburg advises parents to protect their children by ensuring they are up-to-date on their vaccinations, as the flu vaccine is part of the routine childhood immunization schedule. This report by The Canadian Press was initially published on February 19, 2026, and is supported by a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association.
