By Ian Holmes

Evidence it could be a busy flu season, medical health officer says

Nov 3, 2016 | 1:23 PM

NANAIMO — It’s unclear how deadly of a flu season we’re in for, but early signs indicate it could be busy.

That assessment from central island medical health officer Dr. Paul Hasselback who says there is evidence a strain is causing outbreaks in long-term care facilities in B.C. which could mean a stronger than usual flu season.

“That’s a bit early for us to see those outbreaks. It is a suggestion that we’re already seeing influenza activity. We certainly have had local cases that have been identified as well,” said Hasselback.

He points out that it’s unclear how many Canadians die from the flu every year, but puts the numbers in the thousands. He says people with pre-exisiting health issues are more at risk.

“Influenza kills more people in Canada than any other infectious disease every year and that includes the very mild years,” said Hasselback. “It does come close to home far too often.”

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He says that three and in some cases up to four strains are covered in this year’s vaccine.

Hasselback notes that 70,000-75,000 doses are being made available to high-risk members of the public who are entitled to a free shot from the B.C. government.

There are no current active flu outbreaks in the central island region being reported by Island Health.

Hasselback says it will be more clear as the holiday season approaches just how strong of a flu season we’re in for.

An up-to-date list of current public health flu vaccine clinics can be viewed at http://islandfluclinics.ca.

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The following groups are eligible for free flu shots*: 

• Children and adults with chronic health conditions and their household contacts 
• Health care workers 
• Emergency responders 
• Healthy children from six months of age to less than five years old 
• Household contacts and caregivers of children from birth to less than five years of age 
• Pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy 
• Residents of nursing homes and other chronic care facilities 
• Owners and operators of poultry farms 
• Aboriginal peoples 
• People who are very obese (those with a body mass index of 40 or greater) 
• Corrections officers and inmates in provincial correctional institutions 
• Those who provide care or service in potential outbreak settings housing high risk persons (e.g. crew on ships) 
• Visitors to health care facilities
•  People 65 and older and their caregivers 

*Source: Island Health