Flu associated with three deaths in Oxford County
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A rash of influenza A cases has been associated with the deaths of three Oxford County residents in the first two months of the year.
Two of the deceased were in their 90s and one was 55 years old.
According to Oxford County public health, one of the people that died had been immunized against the flu, another wasn’t, and for the third the information on immunization was not available.
Sixty-six lab-confirmed cases of the flu have been reported since the first one on Dec. 2.
A rise in cases in January and February has dashed the hopes of public health staff that the season would be short and wouldn’t result in any fatalities.
“The flu season has been very busy,” said Elaine Reddick, Oxford County’s program supervisor of health protection. “It rages on.”
Besides the deaths, there have been 27 hospitalizations recorded as a result of what have been determined as the H3 cases.
“Most cases have been in the older ages,” Reddick said.
Reddick said she was hesitant to predict whether the influenza season had slowed down, and encouraged those without immunizations to still get them.
“The vaccine is still available from your doctor, pharmacist or the health unit,” Reddick said. “I would recommend it.”
Outbreaks of respiratory syncytial virus that infects lungs and breathing passageways and produces cold-like symptoms is currently being reported in People Care in Tavistock.
An outbreak — defined as more than one case — of a respiratory infection known as metapneumovirus is also currently being reported at Woodingford Lodge in Woodstock.
While there haven’t been any cases reported in Oxford County, Reddick said 11 cases of mumps in Ontario is also of concern and this week she is sending out letters to local physicians to ask them to remind their patient’s to make sure their immunizations are up to date.
Mumps is a viral illness with symptoms that include fever, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, and swelling and pain in one or more salivary glands. Some children may also experience cold symptoms.
However, complications from mumps can be serious including encephalitis, meningitis, arthritis or deafness.
One in three men may develop orchitis or painful swollen testicles, which in rare cases results in infertility.
Pregnant women with mumps are also at an increased risk for miscarriage during their first trimester.
“We have had cases of mumps in the past and it’s not unusual to get a couple of suspected cases,” Reddick said. “People need to be aware of their immunization records.”
While Oxford has not actually had any mumps cases since 2009 — when there was one — in 2008, there was an outbreak of 309 cases.
The MMR vaccination is now given out around the age of one, and then a second vaccination, the MMRV, is given at around at the age of five.
“For a while we only gave one dose,” Reddick explained.
She also recommends older people who work in health care, post secondary students and travelers ensure that they have both doses.