Although we’re in the early stages of flu season, a Medical Health Officer with Saskatchewan Health Authority says he can already tell it will be an intensive one.

Dr. Simon Kapaj says there has been an increase in RSV cases, Covid, the common cold, and most prominently, the flu.

“We’re seeing an increased number of cases. In the community, we’re seeing people that have severe illness. People are showing up in the emergency rooms, and also they are hospitalized, as well.”

Several schools have reported absenteeism at over 10 per cent for the last 3-4 weeks, and Kapaj suspects illness is impacting workplaces just the same.

“Every few years we see severe seasons, and this is one of those,” he explains.

He adds that not only is this season intense, but it came sooner than expected, as well.

“What is unusual this year is the illness in the community, the flu season, started a little bit earlier than usual. We see this season start to pick up at the end of December, (sometimes at) the beginning of January, but we’re just seeing that increase a little bit earlier.”

His advice to everyone is to get your vaccines and wash your hands, although he does not have enough data yet to determine if this year’s flu shot was effective at combatting the current influenza strains going around.