And now for some welcome health news ... reports of the flu are few so far!

While we all focus on our work ahead when it comes to COVID, so far in this flu season of 2020-21 there is actually no indication of the arrival of the flu (touch wood as they say)

In an update from the BC CDC today the provincial organization notes:

There is still no indication of seasonal influenza virus in BC, an ongoing absence since July. Since week 40 (September 27) start of the 2020-21 influenza surveillance season, the only sporadic (3) influenza detections have followed live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) receipt, which is not unexpected and likely represents vaccine- rather than wild-type virus.

In their influenza outbreak report the Centre also observes that the last influenza outbreak in BC was in March 2020 (week 12) with no influenza outbreaks reported thus far during the 2020-2021 season (since week 40, starting September 27, 2020). 

By way of comparison, during the same period spanning weeks 40 (from September 29) to 46 (to November 16) of 2019, there were 3 long-term care facility (LTCF) influenza outbreaks reported.

You can review the full suite of information related to the Flu update here. 

The slow arrival of the flu is a good thing considering the scarcity of flu vaccine availability this season, with the first shipment of the flu shot quickly used up and many residents of the Northwest are on waiting lists now awaiting a spot for their jab in the arm.

You can learn more about the 2020 Flu shot program from our notes of October.