An average season for flu outbreaks in BC so far
Posted January 14, 2014 12:44 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – For all the talk about the flu in recent weeks, the number of cases so far this season in our province has been about average. We’ve only seen scattered outbreaks in our schools and health centres.
Metro Vancouver school districts aren’t reporting anything abnormal and Fraser Health Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Paul Van Buynder says there were way more outbreaks last year.
“What I’m seeing at this point is no real outbreaks in schools or younger groups. I think we’ve had one or two total outbreaks, very mild, in our long term care facilities. Last year at this time, we had had about 40 already.”
Dr. Bonnie Henry with the BC Centre for Disease Control also says the numbers have been normal. “We had a little bit of an early start to the season, so we are probably nearing the peak within the next week or so for sure. Influenza will still be around for the next few weeks, so it’s still important to take precautions.”
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Perry Kendall says it’s hard to predict what the coming weeks will bring, but it’s very possible we’ll end this season with fewer cases than last year.
“I would think that Influenza A will continue to be active through to February, then what we typically see towards the end of the season, February-March, is a shift to Influenza B virus, which tends to be less serious in terms of complications,” says Kendall.
The major difference this season — because of H1N1 — has been age, with adults getting sick instead of the young and elderly.
The province says if you’re wondering whether you should get medical attention for your flu-symptoms, you should first call 8-1-1.
