Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

BC Centre for Disease Control forecasts flu epidemic coinciding with holiday period

Whistlerites urged to get vaccinated with H1N1 virus cases on the rise
news_whistler4-1-6a23a10aa8b2e39e
shutterstock.com

The BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) is urging British Columbians to get vaccinated against influenza with the busy holiday season approaching.

"The coming of influenza activity is hard to predict. The peak can happen anytime between November and April, but what is interesting for us this season ... is we're starting to see it ramp up as we go into the holiday period," explained Dr. Danuta Skowronski, influenza lead at the BCCDC.

The BCCDC's monitoring suggests the flu epidemic will coincide with the festive period "in a couple weeks" time, Skowronski said, and given the flu vaccine takes about two weeks to induce protection, she urged the public, particularly high-risk individuals and their close contacts, to get vaccinated now.

High-risk individuals are those with underlying medical conditions such as heart and lung disease or those with weakened immune systems. Complications such as pneumonia can be life threatening for some.

Unlike like last year and the year prior when B.C. saw "severe" H3N2 influeza epidemics, the predominant type of flu recorded in 2018 has been H1N1. While the symptoms are "very similar, with fever and cough being the hallmark symptoms," each virus tends to affect different populations, Skowronski noted. Non-elderly adults with underlying medical conditions and children are especially vulnerable.

"About 30 per cent of our H1N1 detections have been children 10 years of age and under," said Skowronski. "They only make up about 10 per cent of the B.C. population, so they are overrepresented. I especially want to make sure parents of children with underlying conditions, like heart and lung condition, cancer, and other immune-comprising conditions have fair warning."

Along with vaccination, the BCCDC reminded of other measures that should be taken to prevent influenza:

* Frequent hand-washing, especially if you have been out in public.

* Avoid touching your face, especially your eyes, mouth and nose.

* Cough and sneeze into your elbow. If you use a tissue, ensure to dispose of it properly and wash your hands afterwards.

* Stay home if you feel unwell.

* If you are in close contact with people at higher risk of serious complications from the flu, get vaccinated and don't visit them if you feel ill.

The latest influenza reports from the BCCDC can be viewed at bccdc.ca/health-professionals/data-reports/communicable-diseases/influenza-surveillance-reports.