The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority says it believes numbers for this year’s influenza-like illness are on the decline.
“The level of flu activity generally in the community remains high, but we do believe, based on a number of things, that we’ve hit the peak and are starting on a downward trend,” said Lori Lamont from the WRHA.
Lamont said influenza numbers in the city are going back to what’s normal for this time of year. She added that treating staff at personal care homes with preemptive anti-viral drugs helped to lower the number of new cases.
The news is in line with what public health officials are seeing around the province.
A total of 879 cases of influenza were seen around the province as of Jan. 17, 2015; 42 per cent of those were reported in Winnipeg. Nearly 230 people have been hospitalized, with 22 deaths.
The province sent a letter to health-care providers Tuesday, which included guidelines from the Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease Canada on the use of anti-virals for the treatment of influenza.
In Winnipeg, the current flu season is expected to finish mid-February, but the city may not be out of the woods just yet.
“We do expect that there may be another little bump of flu activity, and most likely to be Influenza B, which is a much better match this year with the vaccine,” said Lamont. She said that bump will be seen sometime around mid-March, affecting mainly young adults and middle-aged people.
The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority continues to encourage people to stay home if they’re sick, drink fluids, and get plenty of rest.
