Just one B.C. flu case confirmed in 2020-21 season: BCCDC

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it’s the importance of washing your hands and staying home when you’re sick. It appears those measures have proven their efficacy in preventing the spread of illness, as the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) says only one flu case was recorded in the 2020-21 season.

“In summary, this influenza season was exceptional in not having actually really happened,” the BCCDC said in a statement.

.@bccdc credits public health restrictions for *also* protecting us against the flu. It says only one case was detected during the 2020-21 flu season. "In summary, this influenza season was exceptional in not having actually really happened." https://t.co/OEckGtJMj6 @NEWS1130

— Sonia Aslam (@SoniaSAslam) May 21, 2021

The agency says 18 influenza viruses (10 influenza A and 8 influenza B) were detected in total in B.C. from more than 75,000 tests.

“These 18 influenza viruses were collected from 11 individuals. However, 10/11 had recently received the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV), suggesting vaccine-type rather than wild-type virus. Detecting vaccine virus shortly after LAIV receipt is not unexpected,” it said.

The only case that’s believed to have actually been the flu was a person who caught it while they were outside of Canada.

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By comparison, an average of 28,366 tests were conducted annually in the previous five seasons, averaging 5,605 detections per year.