The novel coronavirus has dominated mainstream news as Canada deals with three cases in the country.
Influenza has infected more people, however, and it is expected to worsen during this season, officials say.
There are two confirmed cases of coronavirus in Toronto, people who recently travelled to Wuhan, China – the epicenter of the outbreak. A third case has also been confirmed in British Columbia.
As for the flu, according to data from the Government of Canada in January 2020, there have been 12,500 lab-confirmed cases of influenza, and over 10 deaths already been reported as being related to the virus – particularly to the influenza A strain, which is the most common type. There has also been an increase in pediatric admissions related to the sickness in January, with 258 cases reported. The lab-confirmed cases are slightly higher than they have been over the past five years.
Most of the cases of influenza A are of adults 65 years and older, while influenza B cases are predominately people under the age of 20.
The influenza outbreaks, according to Flu Watch, are occurring in long-term care and acute facilities, along with schools and day cares.
There has been a total of 370-related pediatric hospitalizations, but no pediatric deaths. Children under five years of age compose 65 per cent of these hospital admissions.
According to Flu Watch, a large portion of elevated influenza is concentrated in Central Canada – Ontario and Quebec, the prairies and British Columbia.
While last year’s flu season wasn’t too severe, several schoolchildren in southern Ontario died of the flu and its complications.
In the United States, health officials are seeing a surge in flu cases and a higher number of pediatric flu hospitalizations and deaths, including 27 children, with 18 linked to influenza B.
During the 2018-19 flu season, 80,000 Americans died because of the flu, according to the Centre for Disease Control, the worst in 40 years.
Every year about 3,000 Canadians die of the flu.
Hamilton’s experience with flu cases this season has been “not unusual,” says Associate Medical Officer of Health for the city Bart Harvey. Hamilton has had about 200 lab-confirmed cases of influenza.
“(The flu) has been consistent with what appears to be the experience nationally.”
Harvey stated that some people are more vulnerable to complications and hospitalizations because of the flu, particularly children under five years.
Hamilton’s public health officials encourage people to take precautions every day to prevent the spread of the flu including:
• Washing hands with soap and water;
• Avoiding close contact with people who are sick;
• Staying home when you are sick;
• Covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue;
• Avoiding touching your face, eyes, mouth to prevent illness;
• Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces; and
• Getting the flu shot.
Nobody seems to be immune to the flu this season. Mayor Fred Eisenberger was battling through a sore throat during the Jan. 30 budget meeting about the public health’s budget. He wasn’t feeling well and was well-armed with various health-related remedies, such as throat lozenges and Vick’s Vaporub, as councillors soldiered on through the meeting.
“I’m not going to the hospital, but the way I’m feeling I may be there very soon,” said Eisenberger.
The novel coronavirus has dominated mainstream news as Canada deals with three cases in the country.
Influenza has infected more people, however, and it is expected to worsen during this season, officials say.
There are two confirmed cases of coronavirus in Toronto, people who recently travelled to Wuhan, China – the epicenter of the outbreak. A third case has also been confirmed in British Columbia.
As for the flu, according to data from the Government of Canada in January 2020, there have been 12,500 lab-confirmed cases of influenza, and over 10 deaths already been reported as being related to the virus – particularly to the influenza A strain, which is the most common type. There has also been an increase in pediatric admissions related to the sickness in January, with 258 cases reported. The lab-confirmed cases are slightly higher than they have been over the past five years.
Most of the cases of influenza A are of adults 65 years and older, while influenza B cases are predominately people under the age of 20.
The influenza outbreaks, according to Flu Watch, are occurring in long-term care and acute facilities, along with schools and day cares.
There has been a total of 370-related pediatric hospitalizations, but no pediatric deaths. Children under five years of age compose 65 per cent of these hospital admissions.
According to Flu Watch, a large portion of elevated influenza is concentrated in Central Canada – Ontario and Quebec, the prairies and British Columbia.
While last year’s flu season wasn’t too severe, several schoolchildren in southern Ontario died of the flu and its complications.
In the United States, health officials are seeing a surge in flu cases and a higher number of pediatric flu hospitalizations and deaths, including 27 children, with 18 linked to influenza B.
During the 2018-19 flu season, 80,000 Americans died because of the flu, according to the Centre for Disease Control, the worst in 40 years.
Every year about 3,000 Canadians die of the flu.
Hamilton’s experience with flu cases this season has been “not unusual,” says Associate Medical Officer of Health for the city Bart Harvey. Hamilton has had about 200 lab-confirmed cases of influenza.
“(The flu) has been consistent with what appears to be the experience nationally.”
Harvey stated that some people are more vulnerable to complications and hospitalizations because of the flu, particularly children under five years.
Hamilton’s public health officials encourage people to take precautions every day to prevent the spread of the flu including:
• Washing hands with soap and water;
• Avoiding close contact with people who are sick;
• Staying home when you are sick;
• Covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue;
• Avoiding touching your face, eyes, mouth to prevent illness;
• Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces; and
• Getting the flu shot.
Nobody seems to be immune to the flu this season. Mayor Fred Eisenberger was battling through a sore throat during the Jan. 30 budget meeting about the public health’s budget. He wasn’t feeling well and was well-armed with various health-related remedies, such as throat lozenges and Vick’s Vaporub, as councillors soldiered on through the meeting.
“I’m not going to the hospital, but the way I’m feeling I may be there very soon,” said Eisenberger.
The novel coronavirus has dominated mainstream news as Canada deals with three cases in the country.
Influenza has infected more people, however, and it is expected to worsen during this season, officials say.
There are two confirmed cases of coronavirus in Toronto, people who recently travelled to Wuhan, China – the epicenter of the outbreak. A third case has also been confirmed in British Columbia.
As for the flu, according to data from the Government of Canada in January 2020, there have been 12,500 lab-confirmed cases of influenza, and over 10 deaths already been reported as being related to the virus – particularly to the influenza A strain, which is the most common type. There has also been an increase in pediatric admissions related to the sickness in January, with 258 cases reported. The lab-confirmed cases are slightly higher than they have been over the past five years.
Most of the cases of influenza A are of adults 65 years and older, while influenza B cases are predominately people under the age of 20.
The influenza outbreaks, according to Flu Watch, are occurring in long-term care and acute facilities, along with schools and day cares.
There has been a total of 370-related pediatric hospitalizations, but no pediatric deaths. Children under five years of age compose 65 per cent of these hospital admissions.
According to Flu Watch, a large portion of elevated influenza is concentrated in Central Canada – Ontario and Quebec, the prairies and British Columbia.
While last year’s flu season wasn’t too severe, several schoolchildren in southern Ontario died of the flu and its complications.
In the United States, health officials are seeing a surge in flu cases and a higher number of pediatric flu hospitalizations and deaths, including 27 children, with 18 linked to influenza B.
During the 2018-19 flu season, 80,000 Americans died because of the flu, according to the Centre for Disease Control, the worst in 40 years.
Every year about 3,000 Canadians die of the flu.
Hamilton’s experience with flu cases this season has been “not unusual,” says Associate Medical Officer of Health for the city Bart Harvey. Hamilton has had about 200 lab-confirmed cases of influenza.
“(The flu) has been consistent with what appears to be the experience nationally.”
Harvey stated that some people are more vulnerable to complications and hospitalizations because of the flu, particularly children under five years.
Hamilton’s public health officials encourage people to take precautions every day to prevent the spread of the flu including:
• Washing hands with soap and water;
• Avoiding close contact with people who are sick;
• Staying home when you are sick;
• Covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue;
• Avoiding touching your face, eyes, mouth to prevent illness;
• Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces; and
• Getting the flu shot.
Nobody seems to be immune to the flu this season. Mayor Fred Eisenberger was battling through a sore throat during the Jan. 30 budget meeting about the public health’s budget. He wasn’t feeling well and was well-armed with various health-related remedies, such as throat lozenges and Vick’s Vaporub, as councillors soldiered on through the meeting.
“I’m not going to the hospital, but the way I’m feeling I may be there very soon,” said Eisenberger.