Flu cases on the rise, according to Hastings and Prince Edward Public Health

By Rachel Bell 

BELLEVILLE – The number of flu patients being seen in the emergency rooms at Quinte Health Care hospitals is on the rise, and is expected to peak as we approach the holiday season, according to Hastings and Prince Edward Public Health.

Cases of Influenza A have also been confirmed in local long-term-care homes as well as in the community, the department says.

A similar trend is being seen across the province, it says. The rise in the number of sick patients will result in an increased demand on health-care resources and longer wait times, it said.

Patients with severe flu symptoms, such as shortness of breath, should go to the emergency room, while those with mild symptoms are asked to stay home and rest.

Patients with moderate symptoms should contact their primary care provider, such as their family physician or nurse practitioner, or they can go to a walk-in clinic.

Hastings and Prince Edward Public Health is reminding the public of the following tips for staying healthy:

• Wash your hands frequently.
• Cough and sneeze into the bend of your arm, not into your hand.
• Avoid touching your nose, mouth or eyes with your hands.
• Clean objects and surfaces that a lot of people touch, such as doorknobs, phones and television remotes.
• Eat healthy foods and stay physically active to keep your immune system strong.
• Get plenty of rest or sleep.
• Get your flu shot.

Courtesy of Hastings and Prince Edward Public Health.