Michelle DaCruz
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 05/02) - Flu cases are way down this winter, but sun-seekers and Arctic Winter Games athletes may have returned to the NWT with other viruses, the top public health officer says.

"A lot of people coming back from the Arctic Winter Games and from March break have brought back viruses," said Dr. Andre Corriveau, NWT's chief medical officer of health.

The viruses were spread easily at the games since athletes were in constant contact and shared sleeping accommodations.

Corriveau recommends staying home and avoiding contact with other people to stop the spread of the germs.

According to Corriveau the recent outbreak is consistent with annual March and April highs due to travel during spring break.

The three most common respiratory infections circulating in the NWT since January have been respiratory syncytial virus, whooping cough, and Influenza A.

Symptoms of RSV are cold-like which can escalate to wheezing and require hospitalization. Most of the cases were children from Cambridge Bay, Nunavut who were treated at Stanton Regional Hospital.

The 29 cases of RSV, 12 of whooping cough, and four of Influenza A are only the tip of the iceberg, said Corriveau.

"For every one case tested there are many more that go undiagnosed since people don't always seek treatment," he said.

Also if the testing is done anywhere other than Stanton, the sample taken may not always be preserved until it makes it to the lab. So suspected virus cases go unconfirmed.

Corriveau said the low number of influenza cases is a testament to the effectiveness of the NWT immunization program.

Each year public health units across the territory receive 10,000 doses of the flu vaccine which is administered free to residents.

Last year there were a total of 17 cases of Influenza B and three of Influenza A confirmed during the months of January to September.