Shingles cases decline in Quebec except among millennials aged 25 to 49

Quebec health officials report shingles cases are declining among most age groups, but people aged 25 to 49 are not seeing a decrease, according to preliminary data from the province's public health institute. The varicella-zoster virus causes chickenpox and can reactivate as shingles, with about 27,000 cases reported annually in Quebec, leading to roughly 600 hospitalizations and 10 deaths. Doctors attribute the lack of decline among millennials to factors including unvaccinated status, since the chickenpox vaccine was only introduced in Canada in 1998, and immune-weakening treatments for chronic conditions. A weakened immune system or chronic stress can trigger the virus, and younger patients often seek help too late for antiviral treatments to be fully effective. The issue was previously highlighted in April 2025, with long-term complications potentially lasting months or years.