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Source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/britis...ason-1.3922124
'An epidemic': Flu outbreaks in 20 B.C. care facilities over holiday season
B.C. Centre for Disease Control says increased social interaction during holidays likely led to outbreaks
By Kamil Karamali, CBC News Posted: Jan 04, 2017 10:40 PM PT Last Updated: Jan 04, 2017 10:40 PM PT
The B.C. Centre for Disease Control isn't beating around the bush when it comes to warning the public about the H3N2 flu strain, calling the latest influenza outbreak at care facilities "an epidemic."
Lead researcher Dr. Danuta Skowronski says just over the holiday season alone, about 20 care facilities across B.C. have seen an outbreak of flu.
"That's comparable to the number that was reported in the holiday period during the last H3N2 epidemic in 2014," said Skowronski.
"It's about 10 times the number during the same period last season."
She says the holiday season time period spans from Dec. 17 to Jan. 4 ? and doesn't factor in any flu outbreaks at care facilities before mid-December.
"So we're probably sitting at 40 in total so far for this season."...
'An epidemic': Flu outbreaks in 20 B.C. care facilities over holiday season
B.C. Centre for Disease Control says increased social interaction during holidays likely led to outbreaks
By Kamil Karamali, CBC News Posted: Jan 04, 2017 10:40 PM PT Last Updated: Jan 04, 2017 10:40 PM PT
The B.C. Centre for Disease Control isn't beating around the bush when it comes to warning the public about the H3N2 flu strain, calling the latest influenza outbreak at care facilities "an epidemic."
Lead researcher Dr. Danuta Skowronski says just over the holiday season alone, about 20 care facilities across B.C. have seen an outbreak of flu.
"That's comparable to the number that was reported in the holiday period during the last H3N2 epidemic in 2014," said Skowronski.
"It's about 10 times the number during the same period last season."
She says the holiday season time period spans from Dec. 17 to Jan. 4 ? and doesn't factor in any flu outbreaks at care facilities before mid-December.
"So we're probably sitting at 40 in total so far for this season."...