The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is reporting widespread influenza activity throughout Newfoundland.
The latest statistics in the agency's FluWatch report shows 100 influenza A cases in the week of Dec. 30 to Jan. 5, with 171 cases reported since the beginning of the influenza season Aug. 26, 2012.
Testing is normally only conducted to confirm the presence of influenza in the community, so not all patients with influenza-like illness are tested.
Nationally, 3,789 cases of influenza were confirmed during the week of Dec. 30 to Jan. 5 and, across the country, 12,752 cases have been reported since Aug. 26, 2012.
During the current flu season, 152 cases of pandemic H1N1 have been confirmed through testing, but no pandemic flu strains have been identified in lab tests in Newfoundland this season.
The PHAC says 98.1 per cent of lab detections across the country have been influenza A viruses, predominantly A(H3N2).
From Dec. 30 to Jan. 5, there were 69 pediatric influenza-associated hospitalizations among children and youth,16 and under, including two in Newfoundland and 26 adult influenza-associated hospitalizations.
More information on influenza and the PHAC FluWatch reports can be found online at www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/fluwatch/12-13/index-eng.php.
