SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - While an official statement from the federal government some time next week will put a definite date on the availability of the H1N1 vaccine, the NWT's chief public health officer anticipates it will be around the end of this month.

Dr. Kami Kandola, chief public health officer, highlights the rising number of NWT communities affected by H1N1. - Charlotte Hilling/NNSL photo On average 4,000 people die each year in Canada of the flu or flu-related complications During a severe outbreak approximately 8,000 people die in Canada In a moderately severe pandemic it is estimated between 11,000 to 58,000 deaths may occur nationwide An estimated 10 to 25 per cent of Canadians catch the flu each year (between 3.3 and 8.3 million people) There have been 78 H1N1 deaths in Canada in 2009 1,524 people have been hospitalized due to H1N1 in Canada (19 in the NWT) H1N1 and other flu symptoms Fever cough sore throat runny or stuffy nose body aches headaches chills fatigue diarrhea or vomiting

She said there have been about 200 lab confirmed cases of the virus in the NWT so far. As of Wednesday the virus had officially spread to 25 of the territory's 33 communities.

"Even if you look at how many people we estimate to have flu now, it's still a small proportion of the population," she said.

In early September there was a spike in the number of confirmed cases due to a change in season and a return to school for kids.

"We had fall occur, and it's a lot colder, so there's more indoor activity," she said. "Last week alone we had nine hospitalizations and one ICU admission."

Of 19 hospitalized cases in the territory so far, seven have been from Yellowknife, however Kandola said it is the small communities who need the most attention.

"The smaller and remote communities are also the most vulnerable in terms of access to health care," she said.

"It's those communities that we're being very aggressive with early access to antivirals."

She added that H1N1 is the only flu virus going around the territory.

"The circulating flu virus that we do have is H1N1," she said. "We have had no reports of other influenza viruses."

Pointing to a graph, Kandola said based on the more than 1,000 swabs taken from potential flu sufferers, about 65 per cent are testing positive for H1N1.

She said for those who have had lab-confirmed cases of H1N1, the vaccine will not be necessary. However, there will be no harm from receiving the vaccine after having the flu.

"It should be fine. You have a choice."

She said last week the H1N1 flu line processed about 120 calls, and of those, 77 people were referred to their health care centre or hospital.

So far, about 400 calls have been made to the flu line.

Kandola reiterated the need to wash your hands regularly, avoid touching your face, stay home if you feel sick and get vaccinated.

"The one effective measure of drastically reducing the transmission of H1N1 in the NWT is if people get vaccinated," she said.

"They protect themselves and those around them."