Maritime Provinces: 27 deaths related to influenza

QMI agency

Saturday, February 3, 2018 14:57

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Saturday, 3 February 2018 15:01

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The authorities of New Brunswick revealed that 13 deaths are linked to influenza this winter on their territory. In Nova Scotia, that number rises to 14.

In addition, 207 hospitalisations in New Brunswick are related to the virus.

“The flu season has started earlier, which explains why the figures are higher than those reported for the same period last year,” said Dr. Jennifer Russell, the Medical Officer of Health of New Brunswick, in an interview with Global News.

Health officials in the province have indicated that the rate of effectiveness of the influenza vaccine was 10 % to 20 % this year. It was created from strains H3N2 and influenza B.

“The conclusion is that from one year to the other, there will be variations in the strains used to create the vaccine. And annually, there will be a variation in its effectiveness,” added Dr. Russell.

These 27 deaths in the maritime provinces, prompting the doctors to recommend to people to get vaccinated and to take other preventive measures to avoid the flu by the spring. In this respect, the frequent washing of hands remains the most effective way to protect themselves from the virus.