The Medical Officer of Health for the Northern Health Region Doctor Randy Gesell says so far in Manitoba we’re seeing a typical influenza year.  He says it’s the same in our Health Region.  He says the Northern Health Region Emergency Departments are reporting no more than typical influenza like illness numbers coming in at this point so really it’s a pretty typical flu year.  He says the interesting part is almost all of the lab reported influenza that they’re seeing this year so far is the H1N1 virus.

Doctor Gesell says the current year’s vaccine covers for H1N1 adding you can still get the flu shot by contacting the Primary Health Care Center.  He says if you are ill and may have the flu you are encouraged to stay home to prevent the spread of the illness and remember frequent hand washing and covering of coughs helps prevent the illness.