BC health officials confirm six children have died from flu-related illness this season.
The BC Center for Disease Control said it is aware of six reports of flu-related deaths among children and youth (under 19) in the province.
In a statement to Global News, the organization said that “early findings indicate that some of the children experienced secondary bacterial infections that contributed to serious illness that can be a complication of the flu.
“It’s important to know that death associated with the flu in previously healthy children remains rare. Public health is closely monitoring the situation and reminding people of the steps they can take to prevent themselves, their children and their loved ones loved ones against the flu.”
On Wednesday, Health Minister Adrian Dix said it was a tragedy.
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“It’s heartbreaking for the families and it’s heartbreaking for anyone who works in health care, and it’s heartbreaking for me as well,” Dix said.
Dix said the province has been preparing for a bad flu season, but that doesn’t make these tragic circumstances any easier.
“So what we have this year is a lot of flu,” he said. “We saw it in Australia and New Zealand. We have been preparing for it, we have the largest immunization program in the history of the province.”
2:02 The doctor urges the province to open vaccine clinics in the school
Dr. Anna Wolak, a family physician in Vancouver and clinical assistant professor at UBC, told Global News that doctors are seeing an earlier flu season this year.
“Cases are going up and they’re going up significantly to the point where the curve is pretty much vertical,” he said.
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Wolak said they have heard of multiple deaths in children from the flu or complications after the flu.
“We know the flu kills,” he said. “We know flu can kill the young and the old, but the rate that’s being reported right now is higher than what we normally see in a season.
“So the most concerning thing is that not only are there more cases, but we’re hearing that some of the cases are actually sicker than we’re used to seeing.”
Wolak said in the past BC has had one or two deaths in young children during flu season. But this season has just started.
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Wolak said the concern is when children have trouble breathing or when their lips turn blue or when they haven’t eaten or drunk and haven’t urinated for 12 hours.
“A lot of parents can sense when something is wrong with their child and that’s another thing parents need to be aware of,” he added.
Wolak advises vaccinating children against the flu, knowing that this year’s vaccine is a “very good match” to the circulating virus.
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“H3N2 is the strain that’s circulating, it’s the strain that affects a lot of kids, and that’s what’s in our flu vaccine,” he said. “This is one of the strains in our flu vaccine, so we know it’s well-matched.”
People can still get the flu, but with the vaccination, it’s much more likely to be a milder case, Wolak added.
6:09 BC is ramping up its flu vaccination campaign
The BC CDC said flu vaccination is especially important for children at the highest individual risk for serious outcomes, such as:
- Children with chronic medical conditions, such as heart or lung disorders that require regular medical care, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or cystic fibrosis.
- Children with kidney disease, chronic liver disease such as hepatitis, diabetes, cancer, anemia or a weakened immune system.
- Children with health conditions that cause difficulty breathing, swallowing, or risk of choking on food or liquids, such as those with severe brain damage, spinal cord injuries, seizures, or neuromuscular disorders.
- Children and teenagers need to take Aspirin® or ASA for long periods of time because of an illness
- Very obese children
- Infants and toddlers
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