Region launches Flu Tracker

With flu season right around the corner, Durham Region Health Department has launched a new flu tracker on its website.

Building on positive feedback received on the COVID-19 tracker, the health department launched the flu tracker which provides a comprehensive weekly summary of local seasonal influenza activity, according to Durham Region Medical Officer of Health Dr. Robert Kyle.

He says the online tracker will be replacing the Durham Region Weekly Influenza Bulletin “with a more user-friendly and dashboard looking feel.”

“It is a bit early for flu activity, but we need to bear in mind, the measures we have in place to protect us all and to prevent the transmission of COVID-19, also work for the flu,” says Kyle, noting there has been at least one case of the flu confirmed in Durham Region so far this season.

The new flu dashboard includes the number of laboratory confirmed influenza cases, information on respiratory outbreaks in long-term care homes, retirement homes and hospitals, and absenteeism as reported by child care centres and school boards.

The Flu Tracker will be updated every Wednesday from October to April.

For more information or to launch the Flu Tracker, visit www.durham.ca/flu.