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Health Officials Warn of Upcoming Flu Season

AM800-NEWS-FLU-SHOT-BELLER-OCTOBER-2018
AM800-NEWS-FLU-SHOT-BELLER-OCTOBER-2018
People are being encouraged to get their flu shots early

A warning about this winter's flu season.

CEO of Windsor Regional Hospital, David Musyj says predictions are based on what happens in Australia and this year, Australia was hit early and hard.

"It came about three months earlier than it usually does and started to peak three months earlier than it usually does," says Musyj.

To make matters worse, he says there might be a delay in the flu vaccine.

"We also just heard that there might be a delay in the release of the influenza vaccine from public health organizations through the World Health Organization for the northern hemisphere," says Musyj.

Typically the peak period for the flu in this area is from January to March, but given what happened in Australia, Musyj says it's possible that it may peak earlier than that here in Windsor-Essex.

Musyj says the flu is something people need to keep in mind — even today.

"Who is thinking of influenza? It could happen as early as October this year, we could start getting hit really hard," he adds.

Health officials in Windsor are encouraging people to get their flu shots early.

Last winter, the flu numbers were down in Windsor-Essex.    

As of March 1, 2019, there had been 109 confirmed cases compared to 120 in the 2017/2018 season.

 

With files from Kristylee Varley

Local News

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