Chatham-Kent Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Colby expects flu cases in the region to spike in late December to early January.
"That's been a mathematically modelled projection from the health unit in Kingston and this has been very accurate in the last couple of years, so that was when the peak was actually predicted for this year," says Dr. Colby, telling BlackburnNews.com there has yet to be a confirmed flu case in Chatham-Kent as of December 11.
Dr. Colby adds consistant hand washing is key in helping stop the spread of the flu as well as getting your flu shot. However, if flu symptons start showing themselves before being vaccinated, there are options.
"We have a couple of anti-influenza drugs that people can get prescribed by their physicians," says Dr. Colby. "There's one that's inhaled and one that is taken orally and if started early enough, they can be very effective in ameliorating the flu."
