By Cecilia Nasmith
Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit Medical Officer of Health Dr. Natalie Bocking said at this week's media scrum that a single lab-confirmed case of Influenza A has been identified in the HKPR jurisdiction.
A press release issued the following day said that, in fact, it is the first case in two years, since no flu activity was reported during the 2020-2021 influenza season.
“Typically, we have many more influenza cases in our region much earlier in the flu season, but this is something else that the pandemic has turned upside-down,” Dr. Bocking said in the press release.
“Given the prevalence of COVID-19, especially the highly infectious Omicron variant, it's little wonder that influenza has been crowded out over the past two winters.”
She added that the widespread public-health precautions meant to stop the spread of COVID-19 have also helped limit the spread of other respiratory illnesses like influenza.
“Measures like masking, physical distancing, increased hand washing and limits on gatherings not only help to reduce the spread of COVID-19, but are very effective to protect against influenza,” she said.
With influenza now circulating in the region and most COVID-19 restrictions lifted, the health unit encourages area residents to keep up these efforts to stop the spread of the illness – washing your hands thoroughly and often, sneezing and coughing into your sleeve, staying home from work and school if you are sick, and keeping your body's immune system strong by eating well, getting enough sleep and being physically active.
Vaccination continues to be the best defense against both influenza and COVID-19. The influenza vaccine is safe, effective and still available at local pharmacies and health-care providers' offices.
“It is safe to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and the flu shot at the same time,” Dr. Bocking noted.
“So if you're receiving your flu shot and still have yet to receive a first, second or booster dose of COVID-19, now is the time to get them.”
