Flu cases up this year on P.E.I.

There have been more influenza cases than usual on P.E.I. this flu season, with a particular spike in the last six weeks.

• 5 ways to make your cold or flu a little less miserable

• Flu cases rising on P.E.I.

Last year there were 71 lab-confirmed cases of influenza over the entire flu season. This year, there have already been 144 confirmed cases, which includes 65 people who have been hospitalized.

I would never suspect that the flu would actually land me in the hospital. Carol O'Hanley

While the number of cases this year is higher than average, numbers are up all across the countrysaid P.E.I.Chief Public Health Officer Dr. HeatherMorrison, adding it is typical for numbers to fluctuate year to year.

"Every year with influenza it's a little bit different," said Morrison. "We've certainly seen similar years in the past where we've had these kind of numbers."

Strain included in flu shot

The predominant flu strain this year is one of the four strains included in this year's flu shot.

For people who get the flu shot, thechance of being hospitalized with the flu is reduced by about half, said Morrison.

This year less than a third of Islanders got the flu shot.

Carol O'Hanley usually gets the flu shot, but saidshe and her family didn't get vaccinated this year.

'First in line next year

"We just kind of forgot, and you know, it just kind of got put to the side, and we just never got around to it," said O'Hanley.

O'Hanley now wishes she had she got sick in early February and had to take two weeks off work. Her symptoms were so bad, she ended up in the hospital for three nights, she shared.

She'd heard of people being hospitalized with the flu before, but she never thought it would happen to her, she said.

"I always assumed that would be a young child, or an elderly person thatwould hit really hard. So I would never suspect that the flu would actually land me in the hospital," said O'Hanley, adding she won't forget again.

The median age of confirmed influenza cases this year is 64, butMorrisonsaid it can affect anyone.

"I'll be first in line next year, and every year from now on, for sure," O'Hanley said.

Two deaths this year

Among the 65 people who have been hospitalized, sevenpeople were admitted to the ICU, she said.

Two people who had lab-confirmed cases of influenza died. Morrison said it is not unusual to see a few deathsa year.

"It tends to happen to people with other co-morbid conditions, or other health conditions. And it tends to be with the elderly," said Morrison.

The number of cases will likely start to drop soon, as peak flu season starts to die down, she added, notingthese numbers are only cases that have been confirmed by lab testing, which represents a small portion of the total casessince most people never get tested.

• MORE P.E.I. NEWS I'It's very, very difficult to stop': Atlantic Canada's rural-urban divide growing, says APEC
• MORE P.E.I. NEWS IArt in the Open seeks proposals for summer 2017 festival