SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Those who aren't fond of needles should prepare themselves for another vaccination, as the seasonal flu is expected to hit the North this holiday season.

"We usually see seasonal flu somewhere around Christmas-time," said Wanda White, communicable disease specialist with the Department of Health and Social Services.

"When people start coming back from down south, we usually start to see activity."

A press release sent out by the department Dec. 1 said the H1N1 flu is currently the only strain of flu circulating around the Northwest Territories. So far this season, according to White, there have not been any cases of seasonal flu.

"The H1N1 is a bit more virulent, and it's taken (the seasonal flu's) place," said White.

"Now that the H1N1 activity is starting to decrease, I think we'll start to see the seasonal flu."

White said there has been a noticeable lack of seasonal flu across Canada, and even the world. She said Australia, which just finished its flu season, saw little to nothing in the way of seasonal flu.

"Usually, in southern jurisdictions we start to see an increase about this time. It comes in a wave across the country. We monitor it every year and we can see it coming from east to west," said White.

White said there has been a decrease in the number of people seeking seasonal flu vaccinations this year than in previous years. She attributes that to the H1N1 flu vaccination campaign.

"A lot of the people have gone and got the H1N1 so they probably need a little breather before they go and get the next one," said White with a laugh.

As of Dec. 7, about 60 per cent of the NWT, or 25,654 residents, had been vaccinated for the H1N1 flu, according to Damien Healy, manager of communications for the Department of Health and Social Services.

Healy said the numbers for seasonal flu vaccinations this year so far have not yet been gathered.