Flu Bug Hitting Region With Vengeance

By 250 News

   The flu season in Northern B.C.  got off to a slow start says Northern Health’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. David Bowering but this month has been a different story "February has been very  heavy, so the actual numbers of cases are back to what we normally experience."

February is typically a heavy month for flu, and Bowering says there is still  some vaccine left so  those who qualify should contact the Northen Health Unit to see if they can  get a shot . 

(flu shot photo courtesy Northern Health)

The type of flu that is making the rounds is the "A" strain. "It is a pretty nasty one this year" says Bowering  who says labs have confirmed  42 cases of "A" strain in the region, and one case of influenza "B".

"That’s not  to say there were only  42 cases,  when absentee rates in schools  get high, we test only a few students, so while 30 students may be off sick,  only one or two swabs would be taken to confirm the illness."

Bowering says initially, the flu was showing up in the north east of B.C ., but now, there are cases pretty much everywhere, with one important exception "So far, we haven’t had any serious outbreaks in senior care facilities" says Bowering.

It has been a difficult season  for the noro-virus as well.  The germs are spread easily.  Over the past couple of months it has not been unusual to see wards, and entire hospitals in the Northern Health region, off limits to visitors until the bug had passed. Bowering says it is possible a new strain of noro-virus has developed "There is a good possibility, but science is still looking at that" .

In the meantime, those at risk may still be able to get a flu shot and can find out if they  qualify or if there is any vaccine remaining by calling the Northern Health Unit.

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