Children’s Hospital hit by influenza outbreak

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This article was published 22/12/2017 (2597 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Flu season has arrived in Winnipeg.

On Thursday, an Influenza-like illness outbreak was confirmed at Children’s Hospital, where four cases were reported within a seven-day period, the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority reported. Two or more cases is considered an outbreak.

“We are now up to over 100 confirmed laboratory cases of influenza,” said Lori Lamont, WRHA vice-president of nursing and health professionals.

The first case of influenza was recorded in September. This week, the rate is as high as seen in last year’s flu season, she said.

“The last 10 days or so, the number and frequency of new cases is increasing quite significantly,” Lamont said, adding the virus not only affects children but also adults and the rate of admission to hospital has been higher these past few weeks.

According to a report released Friday, this is because of the severity of the symptoms of this year’s flu.

There are “more cases coming to emergency and more people with flu in the intensive care unit and inpatient areas,” Lamont said.

This increase is straining the capacity of city hospitals. Due to the higher rates of admission, the inpatient units are full. “It is creating an over-capacity situation in our emergency areas, resulting in longer lengths of stay and longer wait time,” Lamont said.

Richard Rusk, medical officer of health with the province, said Manitoba has reached its highest number of cases in a week for 2017, with a total of 130.

He said there have been five cases in the province’s intensive care units and a total of six outbreaks this season.

“We appear to (have) started approaching the peak,” he said, while warning it has not yet arrived. “Things will definitely get a lot worse before they get better.”

It is important for people with symptoms of influenza to stay at home and rest, Lamont said. She encouraged people with symptoms to stay away from crowded areas or places with vulnerable people such as children and the elderly.

Rusk said people with the flu should stay home for a couple of days, at least. He said once people get the illness, they can be contagious for potentially a week.

Both urged Manitobans to get a flu shot.

nadiah.sakurai@freepress.mb.ca