The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Several provinces are experiencing a strong strain of the flu and health officials believe Manitoba will be hit next. "We know that the flu will come, we just don't know what kind of impact it will have," said Manitoba Director of Public Health Dr. Greg Hammond from his Winnipeg office. Dr. Hammond described the flu strain, known as A Panama, as "strong" and "virulent." He said the strain is "really more typical of being able to cause flu-like illness" than recent flu strains that have hit Manitobans. "It's not a brand new flu virus," noted Dr. Hammond. "Virtually every winter we have some flu activity." A Panama has been reported in Saskatchewan, Alberta, the Northwest Territories and pockets of Ontario and B.C. Dr. Hammond said the province hopes to reduce the impact of A Panama by urging Manitobans to get vaccinated. "We're trying to help people stay healthy," he said. The NOR-MAN Regional Health Authority offers free flu vaccinations to people who meet the following criteria: are at least 65 years old; have a chronic health problem; are or may be in contact with people who are at least 65 or have a chronic health problem; volunteer at the Personal Care Home or hospital and would therefore be in contact with the elderly; work in the health care field; or emergency service workers, such as police officers. People who do not meet the criteria and would like to be vaccinated must pay a fee. Children under the age of six months cannot be vaccinated. According to Health Canada, the vaccination is 70-90 per cent effective in preventing the flu in healthy adults, and about 70 per cent effective with fever in children. The vaccine typically takes effect about 10 days after immunization.
