Flu season is here again and early indications are it will be dominated by the strain H3N2 — which has historically been responsible for a majority of deaths from influenza, according to Dr. Danuta Skowronski, an influenza expert at the B.C. Centre for Disease Control.
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Dr. Danuta Skowronski is pictured in a handout photo.
Here are a few key numbers about influenza and the vaccine now available throughout the province. The vaccine is free to those most at risk, including people with weakened immune systems, heart and lung disorders, children under five, adults over 65 and pregnant women.
80
Approximate percentage of flu-related deaths attributed to H3N2 globally
3
Flu strains covered by this year’s vaccine for adults
It includes H3N2, which was the dominant strain in Canada two years ago, and H1N1 — also called swine flu due to its origin in pigs — which caused most flu cases last year and was responsible for a particularly virulent outbreak in 2009. The children’s vaccine covers four strains.
100
Number of lab-confirmed cases of influenza in B.C. in the first four weeks of this year’s flu season
That’s higher than 35 and 59 confirmed cases reported in 2015-16 and 2014-15, respectively. All numbers are well below the actual number of cases, says Skowronski, because most people don’t report it to a doctor.
454
Number of public health clinics and pharmacies in Metro Vancouver offering flu shots
It’s also available at doctors’ offices and travel clinics, although the vaccine typically costs $20-$30 for patients not in the high-risk groups.
One-third
Average proportion of Canadians who get a flu shot each year
That’s not enough to prevent the illness from spreading in the community, says Skowronski, but the goal of public health officials is to see that vulnerable groups — very young, very old, the sick and their caregivers — are vaccinated.
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Source: BCCDC Influenza Surveillance Bulletin, Dr. Danuta Skowronski
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