The B.C. Centre for Disease Control is waiting for kids to get back to school to see whether the flu season has peaked or if the worst is yet to come.

"We get reports from schools, we get reports in from physicians, we get reports from the lab and then we compile the information. Epidemiologists track what's going on," said centre spokeswoman Carol Swan.

Last week's data showed a sharp increase in influenza symptoms and diagnoses in hospitals as well as confirmed cases in labs during the final weeks of 2012. The centre for disease control warned that the return of children to school after the winter break could result in even more cases.

There have been 16 confirmed outbreaks - of three cases or more - across the province, and the number could go up by the end of this week.

The bad news is the H3N2 strain of influenza is relatively new and can be vicious. The good news is that it's one of the sub-types included in this year's flu shot.

A new strain of norovirus has also been detected and has affected two Metro Vancouver hospitals. There were 25 confirmed cases in December 2012, more than twice the amount in 2011.

To protect yourself and your kids from the flu, the provincial health authority recommends several strategies:

Washing your hands often and regularly; disposing of used tissues right away; sneezing and coughing into your sleeve and not your hands; staying home; disinfecting common surfaces; getting the flu shot.

If you're unfortunate enough to get the flu, they also recommend getting plenty of rest; replenishing fluids lost from fever; avoiding smoking; staying home from work or school until better.

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