As the flu season continues the H1N1 flu strain, the same one that circulated during the pandemic in 2009, has become the predominant strain in the London area.
According to the Middlesex-London Health Unit, eight of the 12 influenza A cases reported since September were the A(H1N1)pdm09 subtype.
That makes it the predominant strain in Middlesex-London, but Tristan Squire-Smith of the Middlesex-London Health Unit says so far things are very normal for this time of year.
"Flu seasons are very unpredictable and they need to be looked at on a case by case basis. It's hard to predict what's going to happen one year to the next...We aren't more concerned this year than we would be any other."
Of the 12 reported cases, 11 had not received their flu shot this year and the health unit adds that H1N1 is a component of the 2013/2014 flu vaccine.
In total, there have been six hospitalizations, but no deaths, among the laboratory-confirmed cases in the area. There have also been no flu outbreaks at local health facilities.
The health unit is reminding people that flu shots are still available at its walk-in clinic at 50 King Street on Mondays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and at other locations in the city.
Across the province there have been 182 lab-confirmed flu cases since September.
