The flu is gaining even more ground

QMI agency

Tuesday, 13 February, 2018 23:39

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Tuesday, 13 February, 2018 23:40

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The number of cases of influenza is two times higher than normal this year in Quebec and the situation does not seem to be improving.

Over the past six weeks, the data are constantly increasing. Only this week, more than 2,800 tests were positive in Quebec.

Since a few weeks, ambulances with patients with influenza are occurring at a rapid pace. “In the last week, the number of cases of influenza confirmed by the laboratory has increased still further, noted Dr. Gaston De Serres, epidemiologist at national Institute of public health of Quebec (INSPQ). It’s now been six big weeks of influenza in a row.”

“37 % of people who have been tested to search the influenza had, in fact, the influenza,” said Dr. De Serres. Last year, the biggest week of the epidemic, we had a little less than 1100 cases.

There, it is returned to close to 2800 in a week. Then, it is more than twice what was seen at the worst time last year.”

The group of family medicine of Verdun, which receives more than 30 000 patients per year, cases of influenza are numerous. “It mostly affects children younger than two years”, said Dr. Daniel Murphy, medical director of the GMF-U of Verdun.

“This year, I find that I have a lot of young workers, between 30 and 40 years of age, who should consult with because they really do have the flu,” added Dr Murphy.

Instead of clogging the emergency room, he suggests to people to go in a group, family medicine, or doctors and nurses work together to see and follow the patients with periods of “no appointment necessary”.

The health authorities are unaware of when the disease will cease to gain ground. “Is that it will take place next week? In two weeks? It is not able to say,” admitted Dr. Gaston De Serres.