Dr. David Bowering, chief medical health officer for Northern Health is giving a "heads-up" warning about a seasonal influenza that's hitting hard in Eastern Canada and moving west.
The non-pandemic flu strain, H3N2, appears to be the dominant strain in Canada this winter, said Dr. Bowering. H3N2 symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, extreme tiredness and cough.
He said the fact that it's "working it's way west from Ontario, Manitoba and localized parts of Alberta, "is a good heads-up for us to be prepared."
"We can expect increasing influenza activity over the winter. Even though this is a seasonal flu, it sounds nasty," Bowering said.
Indeed, a recent story from Toronto shows the numbers of lab-confirmed cases at 515 compared to an annual average of 81 for the same time of the year from 2004 to 2009. Five deaths have been recorded in Toronto, and outbreaks are happening in long-term care facilities in Winnipeg and other centres.
Bowering encourages Northern Health residents to get the seasonal flu shot if they have not done so. He reminds residents that, influenza, with its complications like pneumonia, kills 1,400 people on an annual basis in B.C.
This years vaccine, which takes two weeks to become effective, includes prevention for both the H3N2 and H1N1 strains.
"We'd sure like to see more people get the flu shot," said Bowering, noting, people can ask their family doctor about it or call the Northern Interior Health Unit at 250-565-7381.
This winter, a total of 4,502 Prince George residents have received the flu vaccine, which is 179 more than two years ago.
Last winter, 2009-2010 was unusual with the H1N1 pandemic flu causing lineups of people (8,089) to receive vaccine as it arrived, so it is not comparable to an average year.
This winter, total number of residents receiving flu shots across the Northern Interior is 1,112 (102 more than in 2008). But across Northern Health, from Quesnel to the Yukon border and from Queen Charlotte Islands to the Alberta border, a total of 2,383 fewer residents have received the vaccine.
Flu shots are free to those 65 years and older, residents of long-term care facilities, those with chronic disease, children aged six to 23 months, child-care contacts of children up to 23 months, household contacts of someone who is at high risk, pregnant women in the third trimester during flu season from December to March, those with compromised cardio and respiratory systems, health-care workers and emergency personnel.
