{"id":165304,"date":"2025-11-29T02:44:11","date_gmt":"2025-11-29T02:44:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/165304\/"},"modified":"2025-11-29T02:44:11","modified_gmt":"2025-11-29T02:44:11","slug":"many-reported-yk-flu-cases-involve-youth-say-health-officials","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/165304\/","title":{"rendered":"Many reported YK flu cases involve youth, say health officials"},"content":{"rendered":"

The virus sweeping through Yellowknife over the past week or two is having a significant effect on youth according to NWT health officials.<\/p>\n

Residents in the territorial capital have reported half-empty classrooms<\/a> and busy health centres as flu-like symptoms circulate.<\/p>\n

Influenza A \u2013 specifically the H3N2 strain, which was already expected to produce a bad flu season \u2013 is thought to be the main culprit based on the available data.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere has been an increase in influenza A cases reported in the NWT, beginning in the week of November 16, 2025, and continuing to increase in the current week,\u201d the territory\u2019s Department of Health and Social Services told Cabin Radio on Friday by email.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis season started earlier than last season, when cases were reported beginning in January.\u201d<\/p>\n

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H3N2 is causing concern as its mutations (flu viruses mutate all the time) are significant, making it easier to evade the body\u2019s defences.<\/p>\n

So far, the department said, a large number of reported cases involve youth.<\/p>\n

\u201cNearly all cases of influenza A reported in this season are of the H3 subtype and around two-thirds of cases have been in people 18 years of age and younger,\u201d the department stated.<\/p>\n

Note that youth might be more likely than adults to present in a healthcare setting, for example if brought for treatment by concerned parents. That might in turn affect the age distribution of cases that healthcare workers see and record. <\/p>\n

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\u201cIn the last week, the wastewater signal<\/a> for influenza A in Yellowknife has been increasing. This matches the increase we are seeing in reported cases and anecdotal reports of community circulation,\u201d the department continued.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are not receiving reports of more severity of cases than usual for this time of year (i.e. hospitalizations). This reporting can be a little delayed, however.\u201d<\/p>\n

Drop-in vaccination clinics at Yellowknife Public Health \u2013 4702 50 Avenue \u2013 take place from 11am till 4pm on Wednesdays and 1-4pm on Fridays throughout December until the end of Friday, December 19. <\/p>\n

Information for other communities is available\u00a0on the health authority\u2019s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Aastha Sethi contributed reporting.<\/p>\n

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