The influenza season is still in mid-swing, but flu patient rates reported by Interior Health are down so far through the year.
At Kelowna General Hospital, there have been about 50 confirmed cases of influenza A and B from the beginning of the season up to Jan. 4 with the flu season not significantly impacting hospital operations.
“This is about what we would expect during flu season,” said Karl Hardt with IH communications.
“We are not seeing the same rates and impacts to KGH as they are seeing in other jurisdictions like Alberta.”
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There was a spike of flu patients through the holidays, but those rates are usually attributed to more emergency department visits since family doctor offices are most likely closed.
Hardt noted that there has been only a limited number of flu outbreaks at local long-term care homes this year and that there are currently no outbreaks at care homes in Kelowna as of Jan. 17.
Though reported flu rates are down at Interior Health, it is still early in the season with mixes of influenza A and B being seen in Okanagan communities.
The flu shot is still available in Kelowna and the Okanagan, visit interiorhealth.ca for more information.
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