A Waterdown family laid their 10-year-old boy to rest Friday morning after he died of complications from the flu. Bobby Smylie had been sick for a few days and had already seen a doctor. He seemed to be getting better until February 4th, he suddenly got worse. His parents took him to Joseph Brant Hospital and a team from McMaster Children’s hospital rushed over to help but that evening, the happy, healthy, athletic boy died. He had developed a flu complication, bacterial pneumonia.

In Guelph, public health officials are investigating the deaths of two elementary-school kids, one confirmed and the other suspected to have been caused by flu.

Although busy, this flu season is not much different from the past five years according to Hamilton Public Health, with just under 500 reported cases.

“Unfortunately we do see cases from time to time, where adults, seniors or children are hospitalized or die from the flu. We’re not seeing this year that shows any difference in terms of strains or mortality from that.” Dr. Ninh Tran, Hamilton Public Health.

Dr. Tran says people who die typically have underlying medical conditions, but not always and that’s why health officials always stress regular hand washing and other hygiene measures to prevent the spread of infectious disease, it’s also why they urge immunization. Getting the flu shot does not guarantee against getting the flu but doctors say it’s one important measure you can take.

December and January are typically the peak months for flu. This week, public health saw the first drop in cases since the beginning of December.