OTTAWA — The H1N1 virus may have hit its peak in this country, according to the most recent data from the Public Health Agency of Canada.

The agency’s FluWatch website, recently updated, concludes: “A possible epidemic peak has been reached by all provinces and territories.”

It says that nationally, “the activity level reported this week decreased compared to the previous week.”

The data refer to the week ending Nov. 21, the last for which the agency has published nationwide numbers.

The surveillance site noted pandemic activity was “still high.” There were more than 1,500 hospitalizations across the country for H1N1 that week, with 243 of those patients ill enough to be admitted to intensive care. Sixty-one deaths were reported Nov. 15-21.

Overall, according to FluWatch, the number of hospitalizations during the so-called “second wave” of the pandemic this fall has been higher than during the first wave last spring and summer. But the proportion of these that are classified as severe has been lower.

Federal officials have been reluctant to speak of a “peak” in the pandemic for fear it will lead to public complacency.

“It’s not over, the pandemic is not over,” said federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq, who got her H1N1 flu shot Friday.

“The more Canadians that receive the vaccine, the less people will be sick. It’s a see-saw effect and I would really strongly encourage Canadians to get the vaccine.”

According to FluWatch, H1N1 appears to have peaked as well in many areas of the United States and in some European countries.

christina.spencer@sunmedia.ca

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See video of federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq getting her flu shot on our blog, http://blog.canoe.ca/thehill/