Ottawa Public Health officials say the flu season is off to an early start

Ottawa Public Health officials say the flu season is off to an early start.

Ottawa has 11 cases of “lab-confirmed influenza.”  Five of those cases were reported in the community at large.  Six cases were identified as part of identified outbreaks in long-term care facilities.   While the numbers are not high, Health officials say it’s early in the season to be seeing lab confirmed cases in the community.

All of the identified cases in Ottawa are Influenza A.

The early spread of the flu, say officials, speaks to the importance of getting the flu shot and washing hands frequently.

Here is a list of flu clinics in Ottawa this week:

Tuesday, December 4
AY Jackson Secondary School
150 Abbeyhill Drive, Kanata
3:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday, December 5
St. Pius X Catholic High School
1481 Fisher Avenue, Ottawa
3:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Thursday, December 6
Richelieu-Vanier Community Centre
300 des Pères Blancs Avenue, Ottawa
3:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Thursday, December 6
City of Ottawa Facility
100 Constellation Drive, Nepean

3:30 to 8:30 p.m.
* By appointment only

Saturday, December 8
St. Matthew Catholic High School

6550 Bilberry Drive, Orléans
8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Monday, December 10
Roberta Bondar Public School
159 Lorry Greenberg, Ottawa
4 to 8:30 p.m.