No Images? Click here MEDICAL ADVISORY: Influenza-like illness & anti-viral recommendations, Jan. 18, 2019Issued by: Gayane Hovhannisyan, MD, MPH, PhD, FRCPC, Acting Associate Medical Officer of Health Niagara Region Public Health & Emergency Services is seeing an increase in influenza activity. Latest Public Health Ontario (PHO) data indicates that Influenza A is the most commonly detected respiratory virus with 17.5% positivity[i]. Health care providers should have a heightened awareness of respiratory symptoms and consider presumptive treatment for suspected influenza cases. Institutional Respiratory Prevention Antiviral therapy started as soon as possible from symptom onset is recommended for
For further information, please contact Niagara Region Public Health, Infectious Disease program at 1-888-505-6074 or 905-688-8248 ext. 7330 Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., after hours 905-984-3690. Resources [i] Public Health Ontario, Respiratory Virus Bulletin: https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/ServicesAndTools/SurveillanceServices/Pages/Ontario-Respiratory-Virus-Bulletin.aspx [ii] Public Health Ontario, Antiviral Medication for Influenza Information for Health Care Providers: https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/eRepository/Antiviral_Medication_Influenza_Fact_sheet_2016.pdf [iii] Provincial Infectious Diseases Advisory Committee (PIDAC). Routine Practices and Additional Precautions in All Healthcare Settings (Revised Nov 2012) Annex B. Available from http://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/eRepository/RPAP_All_HealthCare_Settings_Eng2012.pdf |