The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit is trying to get a handle on a wave of outbreaks at care homes across the region.
There are 20 confirmed homes in outbreak status with four of those centres dealing with influenza outbreaks. Many of the residents at the care homes are suffering from respiratory or diarrhea and vomitting illnesses.
Manager of Infectious Disease Prevention at the health unit, Lora Piccinin, says the flu is of special concern to health care professionals.
"Influenza, especially for our vulnerable populations such as our seniors, can lead to pneumonia, sometimes hospitalization and even death," says Piccinin. "The symptoms of influenza are far more significant and far more severe and it spreads a lot quicker."
Piccinin says it's highly likely the number of outbreaks will stretch past 20 — which already covers about a fifth of the care homes in WIndsor-Essex.
"It's very possible," says Piccinin. "Each and every day we've had a report of anywhere from three to four new outbreaks. We just continue to work every day with our partners to try and support them and manage that."
Piccinin is blaming the H3N2 flu strain for the high number of homes in outbreak.
"Two years ago we had H3N2 strain and once again we had a huge outbreak situation in our community and we had up to 20 outbreaks at one time two years ago," says Piccinin.
There aren't any confirmed deaths as a result of the wave of outbreaks, but Piccinin says about half a dozen people have been hospitalized.
Piccinin recommends you avoid visiting a care home if you're at all sick — even if you just have the sniffles — to avoid further spreading disease. Proper hand washing is also recommended.