Layna Vu Pollard, 12, of Guelph, has died from influenza. She is reported to be the second pediatric death in Ontario but the details are vague. Layna was a Grade 7 student who was at home with her parents when she fell ill. Her vaccination background has not been reported. Among all ages, more than 80 deaths have been recorded here. The Canadian flu season is said to be, in general, not much different from the US, but child fatalities there have shocked much of the country. As many as 63 children are reported to have succumbed. “In general, we can expect a very similar influenza season in Canada compared to the U.S. but not exactly the same,” Dr. Isaac Bogoch, clinical researcher at the Toronto General Hospital Research Institute told Global News. “This year has been more of a rough ride compared to prior years.” According to the latest data from the Public Health Agency of Canada (between the week of Jan. 21 and Jan. 27), there are signs that activity is starting to “slow down” in parts of the country.
