Widespread influenza activity is still reported throughout the island portion of Newfoundland and Labrador, according to the latest weekly report from the Department of Health and Community Services.
The report for Jan. 20 to 26 says the number of laboratory confirmed flu cases during that week was 45, with 12 hospitalizations and one intensive care unit (ICU) admission.
Eight of the hospitalizations were in the Western Health Authority region, two in Eastern Health, one in Central Health and one in the Labrador-Grenfell region.
To date, in the 2012-13 flu season, there have been 453 cases confirmed in Newfoundland and Labrador, 150 hospitalizations, 17 ICU admissions and nine deaths.
Influenza has been affecting children and adults this season, but the report says older adults, age 65 and up, accounted for 42 per cent of the cases, 63 per cent of the hospitalizations, 59 per cent of the ICU cases and 100 per cent of the deaths.
The Department of Health says the majority of cases in this province are influenza A.
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) says seven regions across the country, including Newfoundland, reported widespread influenza activity during the week of Jan. 20 to 26, while 28 regions reported localized activity.
There were 104 new influenza outbreaks reported during the week, including 31 in long-term-care facilities, six in hospitals, 45 in schools, and 22 in other facilities or communities.
The provincial government's influenza surveillance data can be found online at http://www.health.gov.nl.ca/health/publichealth/cdc/informationandsurveillance.html.
The Public Health Agency of Canada's national FluWatch reports can be found at http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/fluwatch/
To see related story on Western Health visitor restrictions due to influenza, CLICK HERE.
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