Flu season is picking up in the Humboldt area.

Twenty-two cases have been confirmed in Humboldt as of February 2, according to Simon Kapaj, deputy medical health officer for Saskatoon and area. Fifteen of those cases occurred since January.

In the broader Saskatoon area most cases have been in people over 65 years of age, though there has been a slight increase in cases in school-age children, likely as they came back to school from the holidays, Kapaj said.

“In general it’s a similar season to previous seasons.”

One difference is that the Type B strain has occurred earlier than normal, he said.

The flu vaccine is about 40 per cent to 60 per cent effective and is still available at pharmacies and health clinics, he said.