Flu claimed 4 in Interior last fall
IH says number of flu cases normal for this time of year
Four people have died during a flu outbreak across the Interior Health region since Sept. 1.
While these deaths are not confirmed to have been caused by the flu, they occurred during a flu outbreak and were considered to be directly attributed to the outbreak, said IH medical health officer Karin Goodison.
Between Sept. 1 and Dec. 30, there were 271 lab-confirmed cases of influenza in the Interior.
This number likely under-represents the number of people who have had the flu, said Goodison.
“Lab-confirmed influenza cases do not represent the true burden of influenza in the community, because many people will manage their symptoms at home rather than going to a physician to be tested for the flu,” she said.
This season’s numbers are not unexpected or concerning, said Goodison, adding there is typically a spike in flu cases early in the season.
“The number of cases we have is not outside normal influenza season activity.”
As of Thursday afternoon, there were nine respiratory infection outbreaks at residential care homes in the Interior, including one in Kelowna (David Lloyd Jones Home), two in Penticton (Westview Place and Haven Hill Care Centre) and two in Vernon (Gateby and Down’s Residence).
During an outbreak, everyone in a facility is given antiviral medication to shorten the disease for the sick people and to prevent everyone else from getting the flu.
The facilities also exercise enhanced cleaning measures and restrict visitors.
Three facilities in the Interior were experiencing gastrointestinal illness outbreaks, including Cottonwoods in Kelowna.
Dr. Danuta Skowronski of the BC Centre for Disease Control said it is too early to tell how well this season’s flu vaccine protects against influenza.
“Those estimates for Canada are not expected for another few weeks,” she said.