By Pamela Cowan
Do you ache, have a fever and a sore throat?
You are not alone.
The flu season started several weeks early this year, said Dr. Saqib Shahab, Saskatchewan’s chief medical health officer.
He noted that flu activity is sporadic throughout the province, but many cases are clustered in south and southwest Saskatchewan.
Although the vaccination rate is similar throughout the province, Shahab said the clusters could be due, in part, to a high number of seniors living in southern Saskatchewan.
Typically, children under the age of five, seniors over 65 and those with underlying health conditions are hardest hit by the flu.
Shahab said the flu outbreaks in Saskatchewan are similar to what’s happening in Ontario and Alberta.
“We think it has peaked right now,” he said. “It will probably take another two to four weeks to run its course.”
Provincially, one in 10 calls to HealthLine is about flu-like symptoms. Lately in southern Saskatchewan, one of every five callers are concerned about the flu.
In the last week, one out of 12 Saskatchewan patients saw a physician because of the flu.
“In some of the more affected areas, one out of five or six patients is coming in with the flu,” Shahab said.
The flu vaccine doesn’t provide long lasting immunity so a shot is required annually.
“If you’re young and healthy, the influenza vaccine is 90 to 100 per cent effective in preventing influenza,” Shahab said. “If you’re older or have underlying risk factors and immunosuppression, you have only a 40 to 60 per cent response to the vaccine.”
Still he urges high-risk patients to get vaccinated.
“You may still get influenza, but it’s less likely to result in serious illness or death,” he said.
The three flu strains that are circulating are the same strains that the vaccine will protect against.
“With an early onset in late November, we started seeing laboratory reports coming through with the influenza virus being isolated,” said Dr. Maurice Hennink, deputy medical health officer for the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region (RQHR). “From then on, we’ve certainly had numerous positive laboratory findings.”
Health-care providers are also reporting numerous flu cases in the community. In addition, a number of other winter viruses are circulating so many people have sore throats, runny and stuffy noses and are sneezing.
Hennink said it’s not too late to get the flu shot, which continues to be available through public health offices. To arrange an appointment, call the region’s flu line at 766-7700.
Typically, the flu vaccine is available until the end of March, which marks the end of the flu season in the northern hemisphere.
“Then we assess how the flu season has evolved and we may even extend it beyond that, which is what we did last year and we offered it to the end of April,” Hennink said.
About 30,000 RQHR residents have rolled up their sleeves this flu season — slightly more than last year.
“The uptake has been pretty good,” Hennink said.
The influenza virus is a contagious respiratory illness that can cause mild to severe illness. As in past influenza seasons, a number of residents suffering from the flu have been hospitalized.
“At the moment, it’s not numbers that are of significant concern at this time,” Hennink said.
Flu symptoms can include fever — usually a temperature of 38 degrees or higher, a cough, runny nose, chest congestion, extreme tiredness and body aches.
Those with underlying medical conditions such as heart problems, asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) should seek medical attention if over-the-counter medication do not relieve symptoms.
“If you are experiencing symptoms that are causing you concern, then go see your health-care provider,” Hennink said.
The flu is spread by droplets from coughing and sneezing. Hennink urges people who feel sick to stay at home to avoid spreading the virus.
“Don’t go to school, don’t go to work and don’t visit loved ones in long-term care facilities or in hospital,” he said. “Cough into your sleeve, use disposable tissues and wash your hands frequently — we cannot emphasize that enough. The washing of hands also prevents other bugs.”
It is also important to drink plenty of liquids to replace the fluid lost from a fever and sweating and to eat lots of fruits and vegetables.
01/08/13 22:39 2013