Algoma Public Health has received lab confirmation that influenza A is present in our community.
The emergency department at Sault Area Hospital is experiencing an increase in the number of patients presenting with influenza-like illness. We request the public’s assistance at this time to minimize the spread of influenza in our community:
- Stay home and avoid contact with other people if you have flu-like symptoms (i.e. fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue). Most otherwise healthy adults can manage influenza at home.
- Do not visit relatives in their homes, long-term care facilities and hospitals if you are sick.
- Get your flu shot. Although this year’s vaccine is not as strong of a match as recent years to the circulating flu strain, it still provides cross protection and continues to offer protection against influenza B which has started to circulate in other areas of Ontario.
- Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 15 seconds.
- Cough and sneeze into your upper sleeve or a tissue, not in your hand. Dispose of tissues immediately and wash your hands afterwards.
- Call your doctor or health care provider if:
- You do not start to feel better after a few days,
- Your symptoms get worse,
- You have medical conditions and develop flu symptoms.
Symptoms of influenza may include fever, runny eyes, headache, sore throat, extreme weakness, chills, cough, stuffy nose, muscle aches, and fatigue. Those most at risk of complications are children under five and the elderly.
There have been eight outbreaks of respiratory illness in the Sault Ste. Marie area at local retirement homes, long-term care homes and within three medical units at the Sault Area Hospital.
For more information on the flu, visit our website or join the conversation on Facebook or Twitter. You can also call Telehealth at 1-866-797-0000 to talk to a registered nurse 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
