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P.A. flu cases at 158; most not vaccinated

Feb 22, 2018 | 4:00 PM

Sixty-three per cent of people with lab-confirmed influenza in the Prince Albert area were not vaccinated according to the latest data released by the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA).

The authority looked at 158 cases of the flu in Prince Albert which revealed 100 people did not receive the flu shot.

The numbers are among figures that show a big rise in new cases province-wide the last month.

There was a 94 per cent jump in the province from mid-January to mid-February with almost 1,100 new cases. A total of 1,143 confirmed cases were reported previously.

There were no specific numbers for the last month in Prince Albert but an official said there was no reason to believe local trends would be different.

Of the 158 cases in P.A. and area this season, 30 led to hospitalization. Twenty five cases were health care workers.

Last year there were a total of 194 cases for the season (November through June) and the data showed things were on track for a similar number this season. The statistics provided do not include First Nations communities.

The SHA said 87 cases in the P.A. area were influenza A and 71 influenza B, although the B strain is now becoming dominant which is normally the case later in the winter season.

Eleven people in Saskatchewan have died from the flu this season compared to the four deaths last year and the majority of those affected by the disease were considered working age, between 20 and 64 years old.

Saskatchewan’s Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Denise Werker is expected to address media about the latest influenza figures Friday.

 

panews@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow