Figures released Friday by Public Health Ontario show 3,401 confirmed influenza cases and 12 deaths at this point in the 2015-16 flu season.
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Hospitals around Kansas City have been seeing more flu cases in the past few weeks, but nothing like the numbers that filled emergency rooms during last winter’s brutal season. “People age 65 years and older, people of any age with chronic medical conditions, and very young children are more likely to get complications from influenza”, the agency reports on its web site.
“This flu season started later than usual, but with lots of momentum and severity”, says Robert Resendes, Health Department Director.
Despite the drop in flu cases overall, officials have started to see the numbers increase over the last few weeks.
Traditionally, February and March are the biggest months for the widespread transmission of the flu and a time local health care officials begin putting measures in place to prevent the spread of the disease. However, this year the vaccine is much more effective at 60 percent, but more cases of the flu have been reported since this time last year.
The 2014-15 flu season was a nasty one due to the prevalence of the potent H3N2 strain, which wasn’t effectively countered by vaccines. Visitors under the age of 18 are not allowed to visit any unit and a maximum of two people over 18 are able to visit at any one time. Flu season typically continues until May, and healthcare providers are encouraged to continue offering the vaccine to unvaccinated patients throughout the remainder of the season. Typical influenza illness includes fever (usually 100 degrees F to 103 degrees F in adults and often even higher in children) and respiratory symptoms, such as cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, as well as headache, muscle aches and extreme fatigue.
The approval of a new vaccine to help seniors fight the flu has been given the green light in Canada, but doctors in BC appear to be hesitant to use it.
If a person cannot get the influenza shot or elects not to, there are still some things he or she can do to minimize the chances of getting influenza.
Meanwhile, in North Carolina, hospitals are seeing influenza cases increasing and are responding by implementing visitor restrictions. Officials still ask visitors to follow good health hygiene when visiting. It’s also recommended that people wear a face mask to reduce spreading or catching germs.
Health professionals advise the public to frequently wash their hands, stay at home when sick, and consider getting a flu shot if they have not yet been vaccinated.
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Reach Kristy D. Carter at 910-592-8137, ext.
