Hospital admissions due to flu soaring in Sudbury and surrounding districts

Public Health Sudbury and Districts says it's not too late for people to get flu shots as the sickness season continues to see more outbreaks and admissions to hospital because of the virus.

The health unit says 40 people were admitted to hospital due to influenza in the region between February 2 and 8, up from 24 the week before.

According to a specialist with the infectious disease and control team, the number of hospitalizations are unusually high this year and have not yet peaked.

Katie Junkin said at the season's peak last year, fourteen people were hospitalized with the flu, so already this year, the number is approaching three times higher.

As for why so many people are getting sick, Junkin said there could be a number of reasons.

"Some possibilities include the fact that the influenza strain is more severe this year," she said. "Vaccine uptake may have been lower, people may be practicing preventative measures like wearing masks less often, or the virus may have found its way into pockets of the population who are more vulnerable."

Junkin added that the vaccine is crafted annually to target flu strains that are predicted to be most common so effectiveness can vary year to year if it's not the best match.

However, she says it still can protect against severe illness, complications and hospitalizations.

Considering the season started a couple of weeks later and hasn't peaked yet, Junkin is urging people to get vaccinated, wash their hands, stay home when sick and mask if necessary.

Outbreaks of respiratory illness are also on the rise.

During the week of February 2 to 8, four new outbreaks of influenza were reported in the Sudbury area, compared to one related to COVID and six others that were still being determined.

Junkin said they're still waiting for lab tests, but the health unit is hearing about outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness that may turn out to be Norwalk virus, a highly contagious illness that causes nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

She said it's difficult to get rid of with common household cleaners, and recommends that if someone in a household has those symptoms, to clean door knobs, bathrooms and other areas daily with a solution that is one part bleach to nine parts water.

The impact of the influenza season is being seen in emergency rooms as people seek some help.

Blanche River Health operates emergency rooms in Englehart and Kirkland Lake.

Interim vice president of clinical services, Samantha Saudino, said wait times have increased at both sites, and more people are being admitted.

"We've seen some admissions for patients with influenza or complications from respiratory illness, but we have been able to accommodate them without creating occupancy pressures so far," she said.

Saudino added that so far, people who are ill and those who come into the emergency room. are asked to wear masks, however, staff are not required to mask at this point.