Via the BC Centre for Disease Control: British Columbia Influenza Surveillance Bulletin for week 1 (Dec. 31-Jan. 6). Excerpt:
During week 1 (December 31, 2017 to January 6, 2018), influenza activity remained elevated in BC. Although some surveillance indicators plateaued or decreased slightly in week 1, it is too early to determine if the seasonal peak has been reached.
Influenza positivity at the BCCDC Public Health Laboratory remained above 40% in week 1. A mix of influenza types A and B continue to circulate in approximately equal proportions, with A(H3N2) remaining the dominant subtype among influenza A detections.Since our last bulletin, 29 new lab-confirmed outbreaks were reported; 26 from long-term care facilities (LTCFs) and three from acute care hospitals. Of the 29 outbreaks, 16 had influenza B detected, 11 had influenza A detected, and 2 had influenza A and B detected; of the 2 influenza A outbreaks with subtype information available, both were A(H3N2).
Medical Services Plan (MSP) claims for influenza illness were stable around expected median levels for the province overall and in most regions, while sentinel ILI rates were significantly above 10-year historical averages.
