The Simcoe Muskoka Medical Officer of Health is lifting a declaration of widespread influenza activity.
Dr. Charles Gardner announced Wednesday, Feb. 4, that the widespread flu activity is subsiding.
According to health professionals, it was one of the worst influenza seasons in Simcoe and Muskoka in recent memory. The flu peaked locally during the week of Dec. 28 to Jan. 3 when 87 new lab-confirmed cases were diagnosed, more than double the total of the previous week. To date there have been 411 lab-confirmed cases of influenza, about 10 per cent more cases than at the same point in the 2012-2013 season, the last time widespread activity was declared, including 42 institutional outbreaks.
In the last two weeks there has been a marked reduction in attendance to local emergency departments for influenza-like-illness.
The declaration of widespread influenza activity served as a trigger for health care facilities to initiate strategies to control the further spread of influenza.
While there has been a sharp decline in cases, associate Medical Officer of Health Dr. Colin Lee said the flu has not disappeared from the region and is still causing serious illness for some people.
“Much of Ontario is still in the midst of a very active flu season, so people need to continue taking measures to prevent the spread of the disease to others around them,” said Lee, adding that some flu seasons also experience a second wave of activity later in the year.
Visit www.ontario.ca/flu for information.
People can also call the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s Telehealth line at 1-866-797-0000 for advice from a registered nurse.
The flu vaccine is still available in the community and although the match this year is not as effective in preventing this strain of flu, it can protect against an influenza B wave that may occur later in the season.
Frequent handwashing, generally taking good care of your health and staying home when ill, are also effective ways of protecting family, coworkers and others.
More information about influenza can be found on the health unit website at www.simcoemuskokahealth.org, or by calling Your Health Connection at 705-721-7520 or 1-877-721-7520 weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.