As the weather changes and the temperature drops, the number of cases of influenza will likely rise.
The Windsor-Essex Infection Prevention and Control Committee is preparing for flu season.
“When the temperature starts to get cooler and people tend to stay indoors that's when we see the most of the cases of influenza," says Dr. Wajid Ahmed, associate medical officer of health.
Officials held their 17th annual infectious disease conference on Wednesday with health professionals from across southwestern Ontario.
"Vaccines will start to be offered in October, November and that's the right time to get the vaccine each year," says Dr. Bryna Warshawsky, public health physician in communicable diseases.
Health professionals are also honouring three long term care facilities at the conference.
Extendicare Southwood Lakes, the Village of Aspen Lake and Franklin Gardens all had higher than 90 per cent immunization rates among staff to help protect their residents from influenza.
“We did not have any outbreaks, no infectious diseases outbreaks in our home through the entire year, so that'll be my selling feature for this years," says Sue Ethier, with Extedicare.
The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit states certain age groups have a higher risk of developing influenza related complications.
“Anyone who is younger than one year and anyone who is above 65 years old and especially with someone who have chronic medical condition," says Ahmed.
The Zika virus was also discussed at the conference.
“This is something that's arrived on our shores that we need to understand and be careful about," says Dr. Doug Sider.
Over 200 cases have been diagnosed and that number is probably on the low end, according to Public Health Ontario.
