January 6, 2018

During the whole period of this post, civil twilight begins just half an hour before sun-up. For a worthy challenge, look above Venus with a steady gaze to find the golden point of light that is the star Arcturus. Then, search for Jupiter below the Morning Star, on a shallow, left slanting diagonal. From Sunday, the 30th, through January 4, a winsome crescent moon joins the bright planets in the soft blue dawn.

January 6, 2018 was the 6^th day of the year 2018 in the Gregorian calendar. There were 359 days remaining until the end of the year. The day of the week was Saturday.

If you are trying to learn Spanish then this day of the week in Spanish is sábado.

A person born on this day will be 2 years old today.

Hey! How’s your lovelife today? Get a free love reading with the most frank answers. Start to seize love opportunities in your life! Try it today and improve your lovelife. Did I mention it’s F-R-E-E? (Sponsored link; 18+ only)

Here’s the January 2018 calendar. You can also browse the full year monthly 2018 calendar.

Capricorn is the zodiac sign of a person born on this day. Garnet is the modern birthstone for this month. Emerald is the mystical birthstone from Tibetan origin that dates back over a thousand years.

Holy Toledo! Did you know that coffee and word games are an excellent combination to sharpen your vocabulary? Let’s give it a quick spin. Within 30 seconds, how many words can you think of from these letters BEAOHHUS? Check your answers here: Unscramble words BEAOHHUS. (Sponsored by WordFinder.Cafe)

Rooster is the mythical animal and Fire is the element for a person born on this day if we consider the very old art of Chinese astrology (or Chinese zodiac).

Now try another date like anniversaries, birthdays of someone you know or any other date that is special to you. Don’t forget to share the info to your friends, loved ones or social media followers. Who knows, they might appreciate and thank you for it.

Laboratory-Confirmed Influenza Detections

In week 01, both influenza A and B detections continued to increase although the rate of increase in influenza A detections was smaller compared to influenza B. The slowing of influenza A detections may indicate that we are approaching the peak of the season for influenza A, at the national level. However, the number of influenza B detections increased 52% compared to the previous week to1,529 in week 01, which is the highest weekly value observed over the past seven seasons.

The proportion of tests positive for influenza increased slightly from 28% in week 52 to 30% in week 01. The proportion of influenza detections that are influenza B has been increasing steadily since week 42. In week 01, 64% of detections were influenza A and 36% influenza B.

The number (2,732) and percentage (19.3%) of influenza A detections for week 01 are within the range of expected levels for this time of year. The number (1,529) and percentage of tests (10.8%) positive for influenza B in week 01 continue to be well above expected levels. Influenza B is circulating much earlier than usual this season. Twenty times the number of influenza B detections have been reported this season compared to the same period during the past seven seasons. For data on other respiratory virus detections, see the Respiratory Virus Detections in Canada Report.

To date this season, 15,572 laboratory-confirmed influenza detections have been reported, of which 71% have been influenza A. Influenza A(H3N2) has been the most common subtype detected this season, representing 94% of subtyped influenza A detections. For more detailed weekly and cumulative influenza data, see the text descriptions for Figures 2 and 3 or the Respiratory Virus Detections in Canada Report.

To date this season, detailed information on age and type/subtype has been received for 14,038 laboratory-confirmed influenza cases (Table 1). Among all influenza cases with reported age and type/subtype information, 47% have been reported in adults 65 years of age and older. Among cases of influenza A(H3N2), adults 65 years of age and older represented  52% of cases, compared to 41% and 56% of cases reported in the same period in the 2016-17 and 2014-15 season, respectively. Cases of influenza B this season were distributed more evenly across all age-groups, but the largest proportion of cases was still among adults 65 years of age and older (41%), followed by adults 45-64 years of age (23%).

Syndromic/Influenza-like Illness Surveillance

Healthcare Professionals Sentinel Syndromic Surveillance

In week 01, 4.7% of visits to healthcare professionals were due to influenza-like illness (ILI); an increase compared to the previous week, and above the 5-year average.

Participatory Syndromic Surveillance

FluWatchers is a participatory ILI surveillance system that relies on weekly voluntary submissions of syndromic information from Canadians across Canada.

In week 01, 1,406 participants reported to FluWatchers, of which 5% reported symptoms of cough and fever, and 22% of these consulted a healthcare professional. Among participants who reported cough and fever, 84% reported days missed from work or school, resulting in a combined total of 186 missed days of work or school.

Influenza Outbreak Surveillance

In week 01, the number of reported laboratory-confirmed outbreaks of influenza increased compared to the previous week. In week 01, 148 new influenza outbreaks were reported: 98 in long-term care facilities, 12 in hospitals, and 38 in other settings. Among the 120 outbreaks with influenza type/subtype reported, 44 (37%) were associated with influenza B, and 73 were associated with influenza A, of which 20 were influenza A(H3N2) and 53 influenza A(unsubtyped). Three outbreaks were associated with a mix of influenza A and B.

To date this season, 486 influenza/ILI outbreaks have been reported, of which 282 (58%) occurred in LTC facilities. Among the 403 outbreaks for which the influenza type/subtype was reported, 286 were associated with influenza A (of which 153 were A(H3N2), 132 were A(unsubtyped) and one was A(H1N1)pdm09), 101 were associated with influenza B, and 16 were associated with a mix of A and B. Compared to recent influenza A(H3N2) seasons at week 01, the number of cumulative outbreaks reported this season has been greater than during the 2016-17 and 2012-13 seasons, and lower compared to the 2014-15 season.

Severe Outcomes Influenza Surveillance

Provincial/Territorial Influenza Hospitalizations and Deaths

In week 01, 128 influenza-associated hospitalizations were reported by participating provinces and territories^{Footnote 1}. In keeping with the early influenza activity this season, the number of hospitalizations is considerably elevated relative to the same period in the previous two seasons.

To date this season, 1,850 influenza-associated hospitalizations have been reported, 83% of which were associated with influenza A, and 1,254 cases (68%) were in adults 65 years of age or older. To date, 162 ICU admissions and 54 deaths have been reported.

Pediatric Influenza Hospitalizations and Deaths

In week 01, the number of laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated pediatric (≤16 years of age) hospitalizations reported by the Immunization Monitoring Program Active (IMPACT) network decreased compared to the previous week. In week 01, 46 hospitaliations were reported, of which 25 (54%) were due to influenza A. The proportion of cases associated with influenza B has been increasing over the past three weeks. The number of weekly hospitalizations has been above the seven-season average since week 45.

To date this season, 253 pediatric hospitalizations have been reported by the IMPACT network, 177 (70%) of which were associated with influenza A. Forty-one ICU admissions and fewer than five deaths have been reported. Compared to recent influenza A(H3N2) seasons at week 01, the cumulative number of hospitalizations reported this season has been greater than the 2016-17 season, but below the 2014-15 and 2012-13 seasons.

Influenza Strain Characterizations

During the 2017-18 influenza season, the National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) has characterized 351 influenza viruses [229 A(H3N2), 26 A(H1N1)pdm09 and 96 B viruses] that were received from Canadian laboratories.

Antigenic Characterization

Among influenza viruses characterized by hemagglutination inhibition assay during the 2017-18 season, most viruses were antigenically similar to the cell-culture propagated reference strains recommended by WHO.

Genetic Characterization of A(H3N2) viruses

During the 2017-18 season, 175 A(H3N2) viruses did not grow to sufficient titers for antigenic characterization by HI assay. Therefore, genetic characterization was performed to determine to which genetic group they belong. Sequence analysis showed that 143 A(H3N2) viruses belonged to genetic group 3C.2a, 31 viruses belonged to subclade 3C.2a1 and one virus belonged to the clade 3C.3a.

Additionally, of the 54 influenza A(H3N2) viruses that were characterized antigenically as similar to A/Hong Kong/4801/2014, 45 belonged to genetic group 3C.2a and eight viruses belonged to subclade 3C.2a1. Sequencing is pending for the remaining one virus.

A/Hong Kong/4801/2014-like virus belongs to genetic group 3C.2a and is the influenza A/H3N2 component of the 2017-18 Northern Hemisphere influenza vaccine.

Genetic Characterization of Influenza B viruses

Among the viruses characterized antigenically as having reduced titer to ferret antisera produced against cell-propagated B/Brisbane/60/2008, sequence analysis showed that all five viruses had a two amino acids deletion in the HA gene.

Antiviral Resistance

During the 2017-18 season, the National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) has tested 353 influenza viruses for resistance to oseltamivir and zanamivir. All viruses were sensitive to these neuraminidase inhibitors (Table 4).

Provincial and International Influenza Reports