Quiet so far, but u isn’t far o
Medical o cer of health says it’s not too late for vaccination
e u hasn’t impacted Nova Scotia yet, but the northern zone’s medical o cer of health says it won’t be long before numbers here begin to rise.
“There’s usually a pattern in how the u spreads across the country. Usually it starts out west and makes its way east,” Dr. Ryan Sommers said. “We’re seeing that again this year. With the numbers the way they are in New Brunswick, it won’t be long before we see our numbers rise in Nova Scotia.”
As of the end of December there had only been 32 con rmed cases of the u in Nova Scotia; none were in the northern zone that includes Cumberland, Colchester, Pictou and East Hants. In New Brunswick, the numbers are much higher with 579 cases of in uenza con rmed as of Dec. 29 – including 71 hospitalizations and three deaths. Last year, at that time, there were just 207 cases.
Sommers said the predominant strain this year is the H1N1 strain that hits younger people harder. But he said this year’s in uenza vaccine matches up well against that particular strain of the u.
Last year, the vaccine didn’t have the same level of e ectiveness against the predominant u strain, the H3N2 that tended to impact seniors more commonly and resulted in more hospitalizations than normal.
Sommers said it’s not too late to get vaccinated in Nova Scotia. He said getting a vaccination is as easy as going to a pharmacist, family doctor or other primary health-care provider. The vaccination is free for all Nova Scotians and is highly recommended for those in high risk groups as well as their family members and other emergency providers in- cluding those in health care, law enforcement and re services.
While a u shot is not a guarantee the recipient won’t catch the u, being vaccinated does a lot to prevent it.
If you get the u after getting the vaccination, chances are the u won’t be as severe as it would have been otherwise.
“It’s a good match this year,” Sommers said. “ e H1N1 strain is the predominant strain this year and that’s what’s in the vaccine.”
Sommers also stressed practising safe hygiene, including frequent hand washing and staying home when ghting the u.