Flu bug hitting Saskatchewan just in time for the holidays

New data shows influenza positivity has jumped in Sask. reaching the highest level before the holidays. Jacob Carr reports.

The influenza virus is circulating in Saskatchewan, according to Saskatchewan’s Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab.

The provincial government’s latest report from the Community Respiratory Illness Surveillance Program shows that in the past month influenza test positivity has jumped from 13.5 per cent to 40.1 per cent, the highest rate since the start of the flu season.

Around 20 per cent of the provincial population has been vaccinated against the flu, according to the report.

“More than 50 per cent of people 65 and older, who are at highest risk of influenza, opted to get the flu shot. So that’s really good. People who are younger, six months and all those who have underlying health factors, also in many cases got the flu shot. So that’s again good,” Shahab said.

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Since Aug. 24 there have been 2,245 influenza detections, and Queen City Wellness Pharmacy Store Operator Sarah Kozusko told CTV News she has seen an uptick in the number of patients coming in with flu-like symptoms this month.

She said the increase in the number of flu cases around the holidays is an inevitability.

“I think that all of a sudden we’re getting more of the recirculated air. People are inside. People get little sniffles and stuff like that, or, you know, [not] washing their hands as often as they should and staying at work when they should probably be at home and all sorts of things,” she explained.

“For my population here, you know, I deal with mainly people that are more marginalized. They don’t really have places to be that aren’t crowded or with a lot of other people around that might be sick. So, things spread more quickly and that is why I think we usually see it at this time of year.”

Both Kozusko and Shahab recommend people get their flu shots if they haven’t already done so.

Not only for their personal health but for those around them who are more susceptible to the virus, such as the immunocompromised, young children, and seniors.

“It’s good if you got vaccinated, if you still didn’t get around to it, you can still go and get a vaccine for the next few days and weeks,” Shahab added. “But the one piece for the holiday season is, daycare, especially when visiting people who are at high risk.”

Vaccinations are still available at walk-in and popup clinics through the Saskatchewan Health Authority, as well as many local pharmacies.