Kirsten Larsen
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jan 08/99) - Increased attendance at the doctor's office and decreased attendance in the schools is a good indication that the flu season has hit Yellowknife.

The schools and clinics were not surprised by the common occurrence -- it happens every year when the temperatures drop. But that's a misconception according to health officials who say it's not just the cold temperatures that cause the yearly occurrence, it's the nature of the Christmas season itself.

Dr. Andre Corriveau, medical health officer for Health and Social Services, said the number of flu cases have increased since people started coming back from holidays and bringing viruses back with them.

"Doctors have been sending in a lot of swabs and we are waiting for lab reports to confirm exactly what these viruses are," said Dr. Corriveau. "There have been a lot of types of viruses starting to appear in the south now. A number of viruses could have been brought back with people visiting south or anywhere over the holidays."

Corriveau said reports of influenza (a more severe type of flu) and para-influenza (a less traumatic flu) were noted in Alberta before the Christmas holidays. Corriveau suspected that the adeno virus, which mainly causes a severe sore throat, would be the most common virus likely identified in the lab results.

The threat of the respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is also a cause for some concern as cases in the southern provinces are being reported more frequently in the last week.

RSV, which produces a mucous and fluid build-up in the lungs, surfaced in the Kitikmeot region early in December, but seems to have subsided since.

"There are no new reports that I've seen, but it could appear now in other areas of the North," said Corriveau. "A child could have it and it may not develop, but could pass it on to an infant. The younger the infant the more susceptible they are to being more affected by it."

Corriveau said children are especially likely to contract viruses during the holiday season with all the attention they get from visiting relatives and during social gatherings.

Hugs and physical contact are more likely to spread viruses than when a virus is airborne after a person coughs or sneezes.

"People cough into their hands, then they touch something that you touch," said Corriveau. "Viruses like influenza need close contact to be passed, not so much droplets in the air."

The best way to protect yourself from contracting the flu is to wash your hands frequently.

"Wash your hands as often as you can and avoid big crowds," said Corriveau. "It's not too late to get a flu shot either. We did most of the flu shots in October for people who are high-risk, like the elderly and those with bad asthma ... Flu shots are available for anyone though for just $10. Influenza can be quite debilitating and keep people from work sometimes for weeks."