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By The Canadian Press
TORONTO — Canadian researchers say this season’s influenza vaccine appears to have reduced the risk of infection with the dominate circulating flu strain by 72 per cent — far higher than what was seen with last year’s shot.
Lead researcher Dr. Danuta Skowronski of the BC Centre for Disease Control says that level of protection against H1N1 was observed across all age groups, including children.
By Sheryl Ubelacker, The Canadian Press
TORONTO — Cases of influenza are continuing to ramp up across the country, with kids and teens bearing much of the brunt of the dreaded winter bug, say infectious diseases experts, predicting that the peak of the annual sneezing-coughing-feeling-miserable season is likely still several weeks away.
This year’s flu season has a far different profile than last year’s: it began earlier and the predominant circulating A strain is H1N1, the viral type that caused the pandemic in 2009-2010 but hasn’t made much of an appearance for the last few years.
WINNIPEG — Manitobans are once again being asked to roll up their sleeves and get the annual flu shot.
Health, Seniors and Active Living Minister Cameron Friesen announced the annual influenza immunization campaign Tuesday in Morden.
The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority says patient wait times have improved in recent weeks, despite a spike in visits by people suffering from the flu.
The WRHA opened 70 over-capacity beds to handle the intake and another 68 beds, that would normally accommodate surgical patients, were temporarily repurposed.
A rise in the number of patients attending Winnipeg hospitals for treatment of flu-like symptoms has prompted the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority to postpone elective and non-emergency surgeries scheduled for this week.
“We are dealing with a particularly tough flu season which has resulted in very busy emergency departments and a resulting increase in demand for in-patient beds,” said Dr. Bruce Roe, vice-president and chief medical officer at the WRHA.
Rolling up your sleeve and getting the flu shot could prevent you from contracting a nasty seasonal illness, says Manitoba Health.
The province’s 2017-18 influenza immunization campaign launched on Friday.
WINNIPEG — More babies are being admitted to hospital with respiratory infections, says the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.
The HSC Children’s Hospital is seeing a recent increase in the number of cases of RSV respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis.
The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority is preparing to open 12 public flu shot clinics across the city on Wednesday.
The annual flu vaccine is recommended for pregnant women, children between six months and five-years-old, seniors over the age of 65, those with a chronic illness, health-care workers or first responders, individuals of aboriginal ancestry, and people who are severely overweight or obese.
