Kids hit harder than adults this flu season in Manitoba

Young children are suffering the most from the flu this year in Manitoba, with 30 per cent of all cases hitting kids under age four,according to Manitoba Health.

Overall,people underage 15are being affected more than the older population, the province said.

Dr. Bunmi Fatoye, medical health officer for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority,said this season's version of flu can present with the typical aches and pains of a usual flu, but children may show other symptoms.

"Sometimes kids do not present that way. They may present more with vomiting, diarrheaso it could be a combination of any of those symptom," she said.

In total, the Manitoba government confirms that five adults, aged 55-65,died from flu-related causes between mid-November and late December of 2018. The patients were admitted to WRHA hospitals from different regions, all withH1N1 a subtype of the influenza A virus.

The province's most recent statistics show there have been 512 laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza A in Manitoba, the most common flu virus in Canada,since Sept 1, along with a couple ofinfluenza B cases.

The majority of reported flu cases are theH1N1strain of influenza A, according to the province.

Of all 514 reported flucases since Sept. 1, 2018:

• The majority have been in the Winnipeg health region, with 183 reported cases.
• The Northern health region reported 112 cases.
• The Southern andPrairie Mountain health regions each reported85 cases.
• The other 49 caseswere in the Interlake-Eastern health region.
• Ninety-three people have required hospitalization.
• Sixteen have been admitted to intensive care units.
• There have been five flu-related deaths.

While the rate of occurrenceis starting to slide and theimpact to long-term care facilities has been low compared to last season, thenumber of respiratory visits to the emergency room at Winnipeg's Children's Hospital hasincreased in the last five weeks, statistics show.

Just 20 per cent of the province received the seasonal flu vaccine, Manitoba Health said.

According to Fatoye, it's still not too late to get vaccinated.

"The reason why we advocate to get shots is to avoid complications with the influenza, we expect it, but it can be avoided," she said.

"We do expect the season to go on for a couple more months, so we encourage people to get their shots."