High influenza activity reported in Mississauga
Published January 8, 2020 at 7:47 pm
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), influenza activity is still increasing across the country.
The most recent data available indicates that all regions in Canada have reported influenza activity and in comparison to the previous week, the level of flu activity had increased. This means that there has been an equal national detection of influenza A and B.
The percentage of tests positive for influenza was 15.6%, which is similar to the average of 15.3% for week 50 over the past five seasons, according to PHAC.
However, the percentage of tests positive for influenza B (7.8%) is higher than the average (1.5%) for this time of year, according to PHAC, who also mentions that the current level of influenza B activity is not normally seen until February or March.
Below is a table indicating year-to-date laboratory-confirmed influenza cases in Peel for the 2019-2020 season.
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According to the report, out of 613 reported cases, the majority of the cases (244) fall into the 0-4 age group.
78 of the cases are in the 5-19 age group, 69 of the cases in the 20-44 age group and 76 cases in the 45-64 age group.
The 65+ age group contained 146 cases.
People at high risk for flu-related illnesses or complications include babies, children, older adults and people with certain health conditions, according to Peel Public Health.
Influenza symptoms usually include sore throat, chills, fatigue, cough and high fever.
Peel Public advises you to call your doctor or nurse practitioner if you don’t start to feel better after a few days, your symptoms worsen or you are in a high-risk group and develop flu symptoms.
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