Northern Manitoba is second to only Winnipeg when it comes to the number of cases reported this flu season in Manitoba.

 

According to statistics from the Province, there were 130 cases of influenza in the Northern Health Region from September first through January fourth.

 

Doctor Randy Gesell, the N-R-H-A’s chief medical officer of health, says that the reports of positive flu cases are dependent on who gets tested, so the number of cases in the north could be up in part because of more testing.

 

He says that this year’s main influenza strain, H-1-N-1, is the same that hit the north hard in 2009.

 

Gesell adds that this year’s vaccine has been more effective so far than it was last year.

 

Data shows that the season has already peaked, though the number of active cases remains high.