A British Columbia pediatric cardiac surgeon is calling for more transparency and urgency from public officials after the flu-related deaths of at least six children and youth in the province this season.
“Parents need more knowledge (because) knowledge is essential in an emergency. What we have is ignorance, and ignorance is deadly in this situation,” Dr. Sanjiv Gandhi said in an interview Friday.
The British Columbia Centre for Disease Control said in a statement Friday that the deadly spike in acute respiratory illness is showing signs of stabilizing.
The centre reported influenza A was the most detected virus in B.C. last week, while wastewater tests indicate a slow increase in COVID-19 infections.
It said that while test positivity remains high for both influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, the numbers have levelled off in the past week.
Gandhi said the 24 per cent positivity rate that the centre is reporting for influenza A is still “incredibly high.”
“Even if that positivity rate is the same week to week, which meets the definition of stability, it’s stable in a very bad place,” he said. “I don’t think one can take any solace in those numbers.”
On Thursday, British Columbia’s Health Ministry announced a “blitz” of walk-in flu clinics that will open across the province Friday through Sunday. Flu vaccines are free to all kids aged six months and older in B.C.
While the province is on track for a record number of people getting their flu shot this year, Dr. Penny Ballem with BC Vaccine Operations, said Monday that only 20 per cent of children under 11 and about 15 per cent of teens have been vaccinated.
