Why everyone has the flu, and how YOU can stay healthy

Canada is currently in the height of flu season.

It probably feels like no matter where you go everyone is sick! This year the flu is particularly bad, and it doesn’t help that with the flu on the move, there’s also other bugs floating around making things worse.

The dominant flu strain this year is H3N2.

According to Chatelaine, more people tend to get that strain, the flu shot tends to be less effective against it, and it’s harder on the elderly. As the season goes on, the virus can also mutate, and there’s often a second wave of influenza B — a completely different strain — at the end of the season, in February or March.

“Like other H3 seasons, there’s probably going to be more activity,” explains Theresa Tam, Chief Public Health Officer of the Public Health Agency of Canada.

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The bad news is that the H3 strains are harder to vaccinate against.

“Typically with H3N2, the vaccine’s effectiveness is lower than it is with other kinds of influenza,” says Danuta Skowronski, epidemiology lead for the B.C. Center for Disease Control and one of the researchers who developed the test we use to measure the flu shot’s effectiveness. “On average, we expect an effectiveness of less than 40 percent.” It’s generally also about 50 percent to 60 percent effective against influenza B.

Unfortunately this year’s flu season also has other, non-flu respiratory viruses attacking people as well. This virus has very flu like symptoms.

So, how can you keep yourself and those around you safe from bugs?

WASH YOUR HANDS

WEAR A MASK

WEAR GLOVES

STAY HOME IF YOU ARE SICK!

COUGH IN YOUR SLEEVE

VITAMIN C AND D!

And lastly (the most controversial for some people) GET THE FLU SHOT!

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