Hamilton flu cases predicted to climb

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(Updated)

It’s peak flu season and everywhere you look, people seem to be coughing and sneezing.

Ontario emergency rooms are filling up with people who have flu-like symptoms. But doctors say that doesn’t necessarily mean they have the actual flu.

“A lot of cases we’ve seen in the last few weeks have not been caused by influenza virus but by RSV.”

RSV is a respiratory virus that’s been hitting kids hard and has symptoms similar to the flu. Dr. Jeff Pernica says Boxing Day was the busiest day ever at McMaster Children’s Hospital emergency department and most had a respiratory virus. But he expects the flu to peak in the next few weeks.

“Infants are at very high risk, elderly people are at risk and people with pre-existing lung or heart conditions or that aren’t able to breathe normally or have severe asthma.”

Those groups should all get the flu shot according to Dr Pernica. This year’s vaccine is not a perfect match for the one predominant strain of flu that’s going around, but Pernica says it’s still 40 to 50 per cent effective.

Hamilton public health says there have been 77 lab confirmed cases of the flu so far this year.

The best way to avoid the flu is to wash your hands, cover your cough, stay at home if you’re sick, and of course get your flu shot. Most people CHCH News talked to have not had the shot this year.

“I did not this year and I haven’t for the last couple of years.”
“I have a little problem with it. I feel there’s a little too much hype about it.”
“No, I never did and I don’t get any sickness.”
“We think we are going to this year.”
“Yes I have.”

Emergency rooms are expected to get busy as cases spike. Officials are asking you to be patient: it could be a long wait.