The influenza season kicked off at the end of August in Haldimand-Norfolk with more than a dozen confirmed cases so far.
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The Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit said the first confirmed case was on Aug. 30. It lists a current outbreak of Influenza A at Caressant Care Long-term Care Home involving 10 people and starting on Aug. 28.
The website indicates an outbreak of two cases of the same virus at the Norfolk General Hospital, Unit 3E, which started on Sept. 3.
There are also three other outbreaks on the board:
A COVID outbreak of 23 cases began at Cedarwood Village Long-term Care home on Sept. 4.
A COVID outbreak of four cases began at Norview Lodge’s Spruce Court on Sept. 3.
And an unknown respiratory outbreak of three cases at Norview Lodge’s Chestnut Hill unit began on Sept. 4.
In light of that, the health unit is urging people to modify their behavior, starting with ensuring flu, COVID-19 and RSV (if eligible) immunizations are up-to-date.
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Other recommendations include washing hands frequently, coughing or sneezing into the upper sleeve area, staying home from work or school when ill, cleaning high-touch surfaces, and wearing a tight-fitting mask in indoor settings, especially around those with a higher risk of severe infection.
“The flu shot is the best protection against getting the influenza virus,” said a health unit news release.
“Anyone can get the flu but it is particularly dangerous for the elderly, children and those with compromised immune systems.”
Both the influenza and COVID vaccines are not yet available in this area but are expected to be introduced mid-fall.
The health unit said it will share details on its website and social media channels.
Symptoms of influenza include fever, cough, body aches, sore throat and extreme exhaustion.
It’s spread through coughing or sneezing and the virus can live for several hours on hard surfaces like doorknobs, keyboards, phones and counter tops.
For more information, about respiratory infections, go to www.hnhu.org/fall
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