As flu cases spike in B.C. doctor urges public to mask up and get vaccinated

Influenza cases are soaring across Canada, according to the latest national FluWatch – and Metro Vancouver is no exception, with the region seeing an above average case count for this time of year.

Influenza cases are soaring across Canada, according to the latest national FluWatch – and Metro Vancouver is no exception, with the region seeing an above average case count for this time of year.

According to the report released Friday, B.C. is one of the hardest hit regions in the country.

The report finds that between Nov. 20 and Nov. 26, 8,226 laboratory detections were reported nationally, compared to the 5,891 reported in the previous week, which is an increase of nearly 40 per cent. The spike in cases comes as the health-care system, particularly children's hospitals and emergency rooms, in already under serious strain.

The groups experiencing more serious outcomes from influenza were children under the age of five and adults over the age of 65, according to the report.

Vancouver-based family physician Dr. Anna Wolak said flu season started earlier this year than it typically has in the past, and the surge is showing no sign of slowing down.

“What’s really alarming now is that the rate of positive infections is climbing really quite rapidly. It’s quite steep at the moment,” she said, adding that this trend can be seen both locally and globally.

"As a physician, as a parent, it makes me quite nervous, really quite scared that this is going to overwhelm the healthcare system.