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Source: http://www.lfpress.com/news/london/2011/04/07/17916201.html
Flu season deadliest in years
Health: It?s claimed 16, already double last year?s total
By John Miner The London free Press
Last Updated: April 7, 2011 9:12pm
Sixteen people have died in what?s been London?s worst flu season in more than 12 years.
A more lethal flu strain and lower vaccination rates are to blame.
This year?s deaths are double those of last year, when the H1N1 pandemic flu hit the London and Middlesex area, killing eight people.
The latest death, a person under age 65, was reported this week by the Middlesex-London Health Unit.
?This has been a bad season, it has been a significant season,? Dr. Bryna Warshawsky, associate medical officer of health for Middlesex-London, said Thursday.
This season has turned out to be more lethal than most partly because of the predominate strain ? H3N2.
?It tends to affect seniors more. When seniors get influenza, one of the complications can be death,? said Warshawsky.
In contrast, the pandemic flu that hit last year affected people under 65 harder, killing healthy adults.
Another factor in the higher number of deaths this year was a lower vaccination rate, Warshawsky said...
Flu season deadliest in years
Health: It?s claimed 16, already double last year?s total
By John Miner The London free Press
Last Updated: April 7, 2011 9:12pm
Sixteen people have died in what?s been London?s worst flu season in more than 12 years.
A more lethal flu strain and lower vaccination rates are to blame.
This year?s deaths are double those of last year, when the H1N1 pandemic flu hit the London and Middlesex area, killing eight people.
The latest death, a person under age 65, was reported this week by the Middlesex-London Health Unit.
?This has been a bad season, it has been a significant season,? Dr. Bryna Warshawsky, associate medical officer of health for Middlesex-London, said Thursday.
This season has turned out to be more lethal than most partly because of the predominate strain ? H3N2.
?It tends to affect seniors more. When seniors get influenza, one of the complications can be death,? said Warshawsky.
In contrast, the pandemic flu that hit last year affected people under 65 harder, killing healthy adults.
Another factor in the higher number of deaths this year was a lower vaccination rate, Warshawsky said...