[ad_1]
Canada | Flu season
CBC News
Saturday, January 12, 2019, 13:46 – Flu activity remains high in Canada, according to a new report released on Friday confirming that children and adolescents were hard hit.
A total of 17,743 laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza have been reported, Canada's Public Health Agency reported in its weekly FluWatch report.
Six pediatric deaths have occurred so far this season, all children under 10 years of age. There were also 95 pediatric hospitalizations at the ICU for influenza.
Influenza A is the most common form of the virus circulating in Canada, and most of these viruses are H1N1.
The H1N1 virus is the predominant strain circulating in Canada and the US this flu season. Credit: Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press
The Canadian report covers the period from December 30 to January 5.
Elsewhere on Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated between 69,000 and 84,000 Americans hospitalized for the flu in the past three months.
The US has seen one of the worst outbreaks of influenza in nearly a decade during the 2017-2018 season, with more than 900,000 hospitalizations and more than 80,000 deaths, the CDC estimates.
The H1N1 virus is also the predominant strain in the US this year.
Influenza infections bring on fever, cough, general malaise, and muscle and joint pain.
Health officials in both countries say it is not too late to get a flu vaccine to reduce the risk of contracting the virus.
They also recommend that people stay home and not go to work or school if they are sick. Everyone is encouraged to wash their hands often and cough and sneeze at the elbow.
With Reuters files.
This article was originally published by CBC News.
WATCH BELOW: AIRSPACE VIRUS HOTSPOTS – WHAT TO AVOID DURING YOUR NEXT TRIP
You can too To like
[ad_2]
Source link