Health News For South West
Wednesday, March 27, 2019
Middlesex-London Health Unit
2018-2019 Community Influenza Surveillance Report: Update of Current Status
Overall Assessment
Influenza continues to circulate in the Middlesex-London region, with cases being reported across the City of London and Middlesex County.
Analysis and Action
The influenza season continues in the Middlesex-London region and elsewhere in Ontario. Regardless of the level of local influenza activity, there are a number of easy-to-follow steps that residents can take to avoid becoming sick throughout the year. While washing your hands with soap and warm water, or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, remain effective ways of preventing many illnesses, including influenza, local residents should also cover their coughs and sneezes, clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces frequently, and stay home when they feel sick.
Details of Current Local Activity
Between March 17th and March 23rd, there were 27 laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza A reported to the Health Unit, among whom there were 16 hospitalizations. The Health Unit was also notified of the death of three cases who were previously reported.
Since September 1, 2018, there have been 409 laboratory-confirmed influenza A cases and three cases of influenza B reported to the Health Unit. Among these cases there have been 207 hospitalizations and 17 deaths. Over this time period there have also been 29 influenza A outbreaks declared in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and retirement homes.
Appendix A provides additional details about laboratory-based influenza activity indicators for the current reporting week, as well as other local indicators of respiratory illness. A graph showing all 412 laboratory-confirmed cases by week of illness onset is provided at the end of this report in Appendix B.
Provincial and National Comparison
In this week’s Ontario Respiratory Pathogen Bulletin, Public Health Ontario states that influenza activity across the province was similar when compared to what had been reported the previous week. Influenza A activity across Ontario is moderate, while influenza B activity remains low. Among the influenza A specimens that have been subtyped this season, 67.8% have been the A(H1N1)pdm09 strain.
In this week’s FluWatch, the Public Health Agency of Canada reports that to date this season, the most common influenza virus identified is influenza A, with 83% of subtyped specimens being the A(H1N1)pdm09 strain. However, influenza
A(H3N2) cases have been increasing since January, and accounted for nearly one-third (64%) of influenza A samples reported in the most recent week. The majority (84%) of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 cases have been among those under the age of 65 years, while 59% of all influenza A(H3N2) cases have been among those 65 years of age and over.
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