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The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, February 17, 2004- Flu cases dropping steadily, i i By JASON MISNER Earlier tbis winter season'it was this vear thn in the sî The Champion lIfluenza A continues to loosen its grip on Halton as the region heads into the fmal few weeks of what's been a long and gnieling flu season. As of Friday, a total of 213 lab- confirmed Olu cases had been reported to Halton Region's health department, resulting inl fine deaths -one child and the rest seniors. 'Me same time lasi year, two dozen cases had been reported and resulted in no deaths. Mary Anne Carson, manager of Halton's communicable disease program, said cases have been droppmng steadily since tic begin- ning of the year, bringing somne relief to heahth staff that have been swamped witb monitoring thc vinu- lent virus. "We are seeing a significant downturninm the number of Olu cases being reportcd to us," she said. "We saw the downturn in January, and again in February we'rc secing fewer cases." The flu season usually starts in November and ends around Uic end of March. easy to think influenza cases would neyer stop pilmng up. I December alone, 167 Olu cases were reported, up more than 600 per cent the pre- vious December. Thirty one cases were reported last month and one se, far this month. "lt's the same pattemn we're sec- ing in other jurisdictions in Ontario affected by influenza," Ms Carson said. As of the week of February 2, the Most recent numbers available, the Ministry of Health and Long-termn Care had 5,308 Olu cases reportcd, rcsulting in 251 deaths. Last win- ter, the Province had 913 Olu cases. Even Uiough cases are droppmng, Ms Carson said Uic Region is stay- mng alert for Uic flu. It's not uncom- mon to sec cases appear later i Uie wmnter season, s0 bealth-care pro- fessionals are being urged to assess whether a sick person May have contracted influenza. Ms Carson said thit year's flu bas been doniinated by the A Fujian atrain, wbicb wasn't mnclud- cd ini this wmntcr scason's Olu vac- cine. The flu also arrived earlicr But thankfully the vaccine offers some cross-protection from A Fujian. And Ms Carson said resi- dents have been vigilant ini genting a Olu shot, doing their part to, help limait the lu's impact on the cons- munity. It's likely Olu shots have also played a role in reducing the severity of the illness had a person contracted the Olu, she said. As of about Iwo weeks ago, a total of 165,000 free Olu shots in Halton had been administered, including those from the Region, hospitals and family physicians. That's way up from last year's total of 128,700. Given the Olu arrived carlier this yeae and in a stronger fom, Ms Carson - stressing it's difficult to predict wben a flu season will arive - bopes thc public will remember this next wintcr. 'Wben immunizations become available, Uic public should take advantage of that opportunity," she said, noting regional Olu clinies started in late October. Jason Misner can be reached at jmisner@miltoncanadianchampi*- on.com. We befieve... in helping. Anyone. Anywhere. Ka 49 Buns /dozen or Bu .15each SAPUTO CHERE DEmO 0 Mprm of M r. p D's, FmI&a t NLl... m im Fe18, 20j 21 Rd8 P ca' $A9 rwh8e HaVwU 4t flb PÉ'S $59b "ýreshSread .ýs ý ýMàn and Duns Saked daily 7 days a wewe p eAk!