The Sudbury and District Health Unit is reporting the first confirmed case of influenza A infection in the Greater Sudbury area.
Influenza, or the flu, is a highly contagious, acute, viral disease of the respiratory tract. Symptoms include high fever, headache, sore throat, cough, and muscle aches and pains. Some people may also have mild stomach upset, but nasal and chest symptoms usually predominate.
“Although it hasn’t been a heavy influenza season so far, influenza cases have been confirmed in other parts of the province already. Now we know it’s here,” said Gisele Sbrega, the health unit's interim manager of clinical services, in a news release.
“The good news is that immunization is still very effective at controlling the spread of influenza in the community.”
People who are ill with influenza and other respiratory infections should stay at home to avoid infecting others, especially the elderly. Frequent hand washing can also reduce the spread of influenza.
“It’s not too late to make an appointment with the health unit to get your flu shot,” said Sbrega.
Health unit staff have administered more than 12,000 doses of influenza vaccinations and distributed approximately 71,820 doses of influenza vaccine to health care professionals.
