FluWatch 2012-2013

FluWatch is Canada's national surveillance system that monitors the spread of flu and flu-like illnesses on an on-going basis. The FluWatch program consists of a network of labs, hospitals, doctor's offices and provincial and territorial ministries of health. Program objectives include to:
• Detect flu outbreaks across the country as early as possible
• Provide timely up-to-date information on flu activity in Canada and abroad to health professionals [and interested Canadians]
• Monitor circulating strains of the flu virus (like H1N1) and assess their sensitivity to antiviral medications, [such as Tamiflu and Relenza]. Antivirals, when used by doctors to treat flu, can help reduce the severity of the illness and the recovery time for a patient
• Provide information that the World Health Organization can use to make its recommendations on the best vaccine to use for seasonal flu shots.