Worst of Flu Season Over for Northern Interior
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 4:00 AM
Prince George, B.C.- When it comes to the flu, the worst seems to be over for the Northern Health regions, but there is still a chance we could be hit by another round.
Dr. William Osei, Medical Health Officer for Northern Health, says this region seemed to have “Turned the curve. We had ours early December and mid December towards Christmas. Currently there is no outbreak in the Northern Interior.” He says the only possible recent outbreak would be in the school system. He says earlier this week, 26 people at a Prince George school ( he cannot identify the school) were absent. 21 of the absentees had symptoms that were consistent with the flu but the test results are not yet back to confirm that.
The minimum for an outbreak of noro-virus to be declared is three cases of vomiting and diarrhoea in four days. The minimum for flu is 2 new cases in a week.
Within 24 hours of an outbreak being declared, an action committee is established “We hold a conference call of everybody who needs to know. Red Cross, Fire and Ambulance, health officials, we use it as an opportunity to educate each other and we’ve learned a lot. In the past we didn’t know what each other were doing, now we know, as it is a very coordinated approach.” He says the efforts mean outbreaks are brought to an end very quickly.
“We’ve cleared one hump and it was tough, the long term care facilities seem to be finished with the flu, but the disease is still in the community. People are still going to emergency rooms and the walk in clinic, so they are having their share of the numbers, but as far as the facilities are concerned, they have all had a little share.”
From the fall to now there have been about 4 outbreaks of flu and noro virus in the North east and North West regions, and almost 20 outbreaks in the Northern Interior.
There is one remaining outbreak in the NorthWest, and the possible outbreak at the Prince George school . “So we are in remission” says Dr. Osei who says there is still an opportunity to get a flu shot, on Friday’s at the Northern Interior Health Unit . So get the flu shot, and then , says Dr. Osei, there are just two things left to do to get us through the flu season “Keep your fingers crossed, and your hands washed.”
Comments
So please take a poll Northern Health on the efficacy of this seasons flu shot!
I got the flu shot and didn’t get the flu. So, 100% efficacy for me! :-)
I didn’t get the flu shot and did not get the flu. So, 100% efficacy for me had I received a placebo in a study …. ;-)
Got sick over the holiday’s wow, knocked me on my butt for a week. Only good thing about it was, I lost 8 lbs.
Both my daughter and I got our flu shots and have been sick on and off since before Christmas. Maybe got them too late? Hubby didn’t get one sand was down 1 day. grr
Part of the problem also is that people confuse the flu with a bad cold.
Spring1 on January 16 2013 9:56 AM
Both my daughter and I got our flu shots and have been sick on and off since before Christmas. Maybe got them too late? Hubby didn’t get one sand was down 1 day. grr
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There are several nasty bugs going around in addition to the flu. The noro virus is a nasty one that a lot of people mistake for the flu. Heck, some people stub their toe and assume they have the flu.
If you have a fever accompanied by cold like symptoms (eg cough, sniffles) chances are you have the flu. If you’re throwing up and spending hours sitting on the can it’s the noro virus and there ain’t nothing a flu shot can do to help you.
Either way, if you’re sick please stay home. The mall will still be there when you’re feeling better.
What drives me nuts….. people who come into work still hacking and wheezing, because they don’t want to use up all their allotted sick days.
What are you saving them for?? Extra holiday time? (rhetorical question)
No shot No flu in almost 20 years
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