Coppermine (Dec 01/03) - An outbreak of flu forced the Hamlet of Kugluktuk to close its school and youth facilities last week.

"We're being proactive," said SAO Cal Shaw.

By Thursday, Nov. 27, 18 people between the ages of 10 and 18 had been diagnosed with Influenza A, the same flu that hit neighbouring community Cambridge Bay hard a week earlier.

Shaw said the flu outbreak is being partly blamed on a soccer tournament, which brought Cambridge Bay youths to Kugluktuk on the weekend of Nov. 21.

Ted Schabell, recreation co-ordinator in Cambridge Bay, was home sick with the flu himself on Thursday, Nov. 27, and unavailable for comment.

Cambridge Bay mayor Keith Peterson said roughly 370 in his community have fallen ill since Tuesday and officials have encouraged groups not to travel out of town until further notice.

The Cambridge Bay high school and daycares were closed from Wednesday to Friday. The hamlet also closed its youth centre, community hall and arena until Friday.

Extra medical help was called in, giving Cambridge Bay five nurses and two doctors to handle the outbreak.

A flu shot clinic is open daily at the health centre from 1-3 p.m.

The Chief Medical officer for Nunavut, James Talbot, told hamlet officials that people should stay home, drink plenty of fluids, avoid crowded places and stop smoking.

Kugluktuk high school, youth centre and arena have also now been closed, due to the highly contagious illness.

"We're asking teenagers to avoid contact with each other until we get through the weekend," said Shaw. Flu shots are available at the Kugluktuk health centre and so far the elders and most youths have had their shots, Shaw said.

But Kugluktuk has not been completely shut down as Cambridge Bay was.