OTTAWA, Feb. 27 (Xinhuanet) -- Canadian health authorities are detecting a new strain of the flu making its way across Canada, itis reported here Sunday.

    In recent weeks, experts have identified a new influenza straindubbed A/California, so-called because it was found in California's Santa Clara County.

    Similar to the harsh A/Fujian strain that has been blamed for particularly severe flu outbreaks in recent years, A/California has been making a growing number of Canadians sick.

    "We have identified it in six difference provinces," Health Canada's Dr. Theresa Tam told reporters, referring to the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Newfoundland. "It appears to be moving across the country," hesaid.

    Right now, Canada is a little more than half way through flu season, which typically runs from November to April.

    In its most recent FluWatch report, Health Canada says that from Feb. 11-17, there was widespread reporting of cases in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario. Enditem