If this year's influenza infections in Australia are any indication of what we can expect, get your flu shot. It is going to be nasty.
Tens of thousands of people in Australia have been struck down ill by the virus. An estimated 30,000 cases are reported, despite record numbers of people getting the flu vaccine, according to Network 10. The numbers are likely higher. Most people who are sick do not go to the hospital.
So what does that tell health officials in Canada about what we can expect when flu season starts? A lot.
"We can expect to see similar trends, and that is what we are trying to prepare for," said Dr. Wajid Ahmed, the medical officer of health at the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit.
The province has ordered an extra 300,000 doses of the vaccine, or a total of 1.2 million treatments.
It is the H3N2 strain.
"That's the strain that causes more hospitalizations and more mortality," explained Ahmed, but he added that the influenza virus is known for its ability to mutat. "We may see similar strains in our community, but it's generally a prediction. The situation could change."
"If it changes in any way -- then it makes it difficult to get a match," he continued. "We hope that we get it right this year and we can prevent many of these cases."
