Dawn Ostrem
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jan 16/02) - A downside of going home for the holidays is coming back with an unwelcome present.

Flu-like bugs tend to attack unsuspecting victims who return to the North.

Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacy manager Cindy Dolynny has seen an increase in the last few weeks of people feeling under the weather. - Dawn Ostrem/NNSL photo

While some of the symptoms may be flu-like, these are not actual viral influenza cases.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) describes the phenomenon as the "myth of the stomach flu."

Influenza is a viral respiratory illness and not a stomach or intestinal disease, the CDC notes, although the phrase "stomach flu" is misused widely to describe nausea, vomiting and diarrhea caused by other viruses, bacteria or even parasites.

"They are all shaking hands and kissing and saying happy new year," explained NWT chief medical health officer Dr. Andre Corriveau.

"It is not unexpected because after the holidays people tend to come back with viruses they pick up all over the world really."

Corriveau said public health in the NWT monitors the viruses across Canada weekly.

But several people in the city are feeling under the weather thanks to several other bugs.

"I have heard that on the street," he added.

Many people are appearing at pharmacies with more stomach flu than usual. Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacy manager Cindy Dolynny said a lot are young kids in day homes.

"There have been more (people) in the last couple of weeks than usual," she said.

"We have had a few people who came in who have stomach flu in the last few weeks as opposed to the actual flu."

"I've dispensed a lot of Gravol."

Corriveau said it is not unusual for people to succumb to the bugs after Christmas and in the fall when families return from holidays.

"The best advice to people is to wash your hands as much as possible," he said.