The latest flu outbreak in our City is being declared at Hogarth Riverview.
Health Unit Associate Medical Officer of Health Emily Groot says it’s been a very strong flu season with new cases popping up just as fast as they are cleared up.
“One of the challenges is that people who are in hospital or in long term care homes already have underlying health conditions that put them at risk of getting the flu.”
Groot notes it’s also difficult to manage the flu in a long term care home because of the close quarters.
The Health Unit is working with staff at area old age homes to make sure their clients are being well cared for during these outbreaks.
Groot says this year’s strain of the flu is called H3N2 which is quite severe in terms of it’s impacts of the illness it produces and in the number of people it infects.
Officials say we have seen more outbreaks at long term care homes this year than in previous.
If you want to see just which homes are dealing with outbreaks you can click HERE. (Photo supplied)