Sask. health officials can't confirm yet whether the flu shot is working

Despite concerns that the flu shot isn't working this year, Saskatchewan health officials say it's too early to confirm that notion.

Through the week of Jan.6, total confirmed cases of the flu sit at 1,029since Sept. 1. The same reporting time last year totalled 590.

On the same scale, there have been 33 outbreaks in long-term health facilities, in comparison with only nine last year.

Because this year's influenza activity period began earlier than last year, the health ministry says,the year-to-yearnumbers are like comparing apples to oranges.

Until the full activity period has ended, the government won't compare numbers.

"I just want to provide some reassurance that what we're seeing in respect to influenza, at least in Canada, is not unusual, in general," said Dr. Denise Werker,deputychief medical officer with the government of Saskatchewan.

• Flu numbers in Sask. spike in December, up 80% over 2016
• Sask. influenza numbers spike just in time for the holidays

She said the only oddity about this year's activity is that both A and B strains are present at this time. The B strain typically appears later in the season.

The two strains have different geneticmakeupsand trigger different immune responses in varied age demographics.

Influenza activity has likely peaked

Influenza periods usually last 10 to 12 weeks. They typically start at the beginning of October and run until March.

"We think that the maximum amount of influenza activity likely peaked in the last week of December," Werkersaid.

• Dozens of students sick at Regina school

The government continues to encourage people to get vaccinated.