The H1N1 flu lashed the province harder last week than any other time since the virus spread to B.C.
Provincial health officer Dr. Perry Kendall told media the flu resulted in 162 hospitalizations last week, almost doubling the total number to 361 severe cases during the lifespan of the pandemic.
Three deaths - two in the Fraser Health district and one in the Vancouver Coastal Health area - were also reported. That brings the total number of H1N1-related deaths in the province to 15.
"This is something we've been preparing for and it's something we've been expecting," Kendall said at a briefing in Victoria yesterday. "We're approaching the peak of the second wave. I am expecting some more deaths."
Health officials are scrambling to immunize all at-risk populations at 200 vaccination clinics throughout the province this week.
Despite vaccine shortages, Kendall says 800,000 people, or 20 per cent of the population, should be vaccinated by the end of the week.
If there is any good news, Kendall says the nature of the virus hasn't changed since it first appeared in B.C.
"This pandemic continues to be of moderate severity," he said. "So the vast majority of people falling ill will be able to recover by staying at home."
For more information, visit www.health.gov.bc.ca/ flu.
