Severe Flu Cases Surge in Manitoba - Aboriginal Community Hit Hard

[sharon sanders]

Re: Novel H1N1 flu outbreak hits isolated First Nations reserve

Cartski you are right, of course.

Political discussions do not belong on FT.


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[sharon sanders]

Re: Novel H1N1 flu outbreak hits isolated First Nations reserve

http://www.aundeckomnikaningfn.com/aundeck_omni_kaning_photos/index.album/children-in-their-regalia?i=14

[cartski]

Re: Novel H1N1 flu outbreak hits isolated First Nations reserve

Just received....

The buzz prior to this release was that MB has more intesive care cases than any other province.

The delay of elective surgery is very unusual.


Manitoba News Release
.................................................. ..........
June 8, 2009

BULLETIN #18 H1N1 FLU

. Manitoba Health and Healthy Living is reporting a surge in the number of people requiring intensive care for influenza-like illnesses.

. The influenza outbreak is provincewide and it is expected there will be cases in communities across Manitoba. Most Manitobans who become ill are experiencing relatively mild cases of influenza illness and have not required hospitalization. Manitoba has experienced an increased concentration of severe respiratory illness admitted to the intensive-care units, which is higher in number than previous influenza outbreaks. The majority of the cases are in people of Aboriginal descent.

. The Public Health Agency of Canada has provided three epidemiologists to Manitoba to assist in assessing Manitoba's cases of influenza-like illness.

. The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA) is taking steps to provide enough support in intensive-care units (ICUs) and prioritizing patients for personal-care home beds. There are also 15 additional ventilators that have arrived and will be put to use as needed. The WRHA may also defer non-urgent surgical procedures that would normally require ICU care.
. To date, Manitoba has 40 confirmed cases of H1N1 from six health regions.

[snip]

.
. For more information about H1N1 flu, see www.manitoba.ca.

[HenryN]

Re: Novel H1N1 flu outbreak hits isolated First Nations reserve

June 8, 2009

BULLETIN #18 H1N1 FLU

? Manitoba Health and Healthy Living is reporting a surge in the number of people requiring intensive care for influenza-like illnesses.
? The influenza outbreak is provincewide and it is expected there will be cases in communities across Manitoba. Most Manitobans who become ill are experiencing relatively mild cases of influenza illness and have not required hospitalization. Manitoba has experienced an increased concentration of severe respiratory illness admitted to the intensive-care units, which is higher in number than previous influenza outbreaks. The majority of the cases are in people of Aboriginal descent.
? The Public Health Agency of Canada has provided three epidemiologists to Manitoba to assist in assessing Manitoba?s cases of influenza-like illness.
? The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA) is taking steps to provide enough support in intensive-care units (ICUs) and prioritizing patients for personal-care home beds. There are also 15 additional ventilators that have arrived and will be put to use as needed. The WRHA may also defer non-urgent surgical procedures that would normally require ICU care.
? To date, Manitoba has 40 confirmed cases of H1N1 from six health regions.
? In order to limit the spread of disease, the following precautions are recommended:
- Cover a cough or sneeze by coughing or sneezing into your elbow or sleeve or using a tissue to cover your nose and mouth.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
- Limit touching of your eyes, nose or mouth.
? To reduce the severity of the disease, it is important to maintain the strength of your immune system by taking care of yourself and those in your care including eating a healthy, balanced diet, being active and getting enough sleep. If you or someone in your care has a chronic condition, get the help needed for effective care from your health-care provider.
? In addition to the above, if you have symptoms of flu-like illness, such as fever, cough, aches and tiredness, you are most contagious for three to four days, but it is possible to spread the disease for up to a week once your symptoms start to appear. You should:
- Stay home from school or work while you are ill and limit contact with others to reduce the chance of spreading the virus.
- Contact your health-care provider or Health Links?Info Sant? at 788‑8200 or 1-888-315-9257 (toll-free) if you are concerned that you need advice or care.
? For more information about H1N1 flu, see www.manitoba.ca.

[Snicklefritz]

Re: Novel H1N1 flu outbreak hits isolated First Nations reserve

Is this a snapshot of what could happen when this 'mild' virus establishes itself in communities or nations with marginalized populations? WHO is right - severity is localized and relative.

[HenryN]

Re: Novel H1N1 flu outbreak hits isolated First Nations reserve

Is this a snapshot of what could happen when this 'mild' virus establishes itself in communities or nations with marginalized populations? WHO is right - severity is localized and relative.

New York and Boston are not homogenoeus. Cases there are exploding.

[Snicklefritz]

Re: Novel H1N1 flu outbreak hits isolated First Nations reserve

And, thank you. Are they shipping additional ventilators and epidemiologists to Boston? Is there an excess, above seasonal influenza, of severe cases in New York?

[HenryN]

Re: Novel H1N1 flu outbreak hits isolated First Nations reserve

And, thank you. Are they shipping additional ventilators and epidemiologists to Boston? Is there an excess, above seasonal influenza, of severe cases in New York?

New York has had 8 deaths, all under 65. Boston and NY have massive outbreaks among students (many other areas have outbreaks, but don't test / report).

[Snicklefritz]

Re: Novel H1N1 flu outbreak hits isolated First Nations reserve

I understand, in my own layman's way, the frustration at the way testing is being conducted. But, the number of cases is different than the severity of disease for those cases that are tested in Manitoba and the US. My post, stated as a quesiton, was whether the situation in a local community in Canada will be similar in developing nations, and in local communities in developed nations ( US included), when the virus gets a foothold. (Perhaps we can agree that it's really just beginning now?)

It seems to this layman, that the majority of cases in the US that have led to severe disease are associated with those with 'underlying conditions' which are far more common in 'marginalized' communities than in the general US population, young healthy victims notwithstanding.

[blacknail]

Re: Novel H1N1 flu outbreak hits isolated First Nations reserve

Florida1 - What we need to focus on is improving the living conditions and the health on the reserves both now and into the future. We as Canadians have to work together with the band leaders, and with everyone living on the reserves. The status quo is not working, and the political games are not useful. Maybe we can start a thread on ideas on this topic, how to overcome barriers and make a real difference to the health of people living on reserves in Canada and around the World.

[Diane Morin]

Re: Novel H1N1 flu outbreak hits isolated First Nations reserve

Severe flu cases surge in Manitoba aboriginal community

Last Updated: Monday, June 8, 2009 | 4:05 PM CT Comments0Recommend3

CBC News


The Manitoba government is reporting a surge in the number of people requiring intensive care for influenza-like illnesses, particularly among a relatively young aboriginal population.
The vast majority of people reporting flu-like illnesses this spring are experiencing relatively mild cases and have not required hospitalization, Manitoba's chief medical officer of health, Dr. Joel Kettner, said at a press conference Monday afternoon.

'It's important to recognize that what we have observed is really more severe than what we would expect to see or what we have seen with typical seasonal influenza in the past.'?Dr. Joel Kettner, Manitoba's chief medical officer of health

However, there has been "an increased concentration of severe respiratory illness admitted to the intensive care units, which is higher in number than previous influenza outbreaks," officials with Manitoba Health and Healthy Living stated at the press conference.
As of Sunday night, 26 people were in the intensive care units on ventilators for flu-related reasons. It is expected many of them will be confirmed as cases of swine flu, or the H1N1 influenza A virus, officials said, noting more than half of the people are of aboriginal descent with an average age of 35, said Kettner.
The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority is taking steps to provide enough support to intensive-care units and prioritizing patients for personal-care home beds. The WRHA has also acquired 15 additional ventilators that will be put to use as needed, officials said.
Normally at this time of year, there are 30-35 patients using hospital ventilators for various reasons. The 26 people requiring the devices due to flu-like illnesses are in addition to those patients.
Typically, at this time of year, there are very few ? if any ? cases of severe flu.
"It's important to recognize that what we have observed is really more severe than what we would expect to see or what we have seen with typical seasonal influenza in the past," said Kettner.
Non-urgent surgeries may be postponed

The WRHA authority may also defer non-urgent surgical procedures that would normally require ICU care, said health officials.
As well, the Public Health Agency of Canada has provided three epidemiologists to Manitoba to assist in assessing cases of influenza-like illness.
There are 40 people in Manitoba with confirmed cases of swine flu. There were no new cases announced Monday.
Health authorities announced last week 27 new cases of the H1N1 virus in Manitoba, affecting people between the ages of one month and 56 years. Of the new cases, three patients required treatment in hospital.
Illnesses afflict communities of St. Theresa Point and Dauphin

As well, more than 200 people from St. Theresa Point First Nation, located about 500 kilometres from Winnipeg, reported being ill last week. Of those, 21 were transported to Winnipeg hospitals and two were confirmed to have swine flu. The majority of the ill are being treated in the community.
Also, a flu-like outbreak kept hundreds of students away from schools in Dauphin, Man., last week.
The provincial government is encouraging the public to maintain their immune systems by making healthy food choices, being physically active and getting enough sleep.
Other tips to prevent the spread of any germs include:

• Covering a cough or sneeze, using a tissue or the inside of the elbow.
• Washing hands often with soap and water, especially after a cough or sneeze.
• Avoiding touching eyes, nose or mouth.

Those with flu-like symptoms, such as fever, cough, aches and fatigue, are most contagious for about one week. During that time, people are encouraged to stay home from school or work and limit contact with others to reduce the chance of spreading the virus.
Anyone seeking advice or care can call Health Links at 204-788-8200 or 1-888-315-9257.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2009/06/08/mb-influenza-winnipeg.html

[HenryN]

Re: Novel H1N1 flu outbreak hits isolated First Nations reserve

<a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.recombinomics.com/News/06080901/H1N1_MB_Vents.html">Commentary</a>

[sharon sanders]

Re: Novel H1N1 flu outbreak hits isolated First Nations reserve

Florida1 - What we need to focus on is improving the living conditions and the health on the reserves both now and into the future. We as Canadians have to work together with the band leaders, and with everyone living on the reserves. The status quo is not working, and the political games are not useful. Maybe we can start a thread on ideas on this topic, how to overcome barriers and make a real difference to the health of people living on reserves in Canada and around the World.

Great idea! How about here?

We have an entire forum dedicated to this. Go ahead and start the thread.

World's Indigenous Peoples - Health & Humanitarian Issues

http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=1407

[pflu]

Re: Novel H1N1 flu outbreak hits isolated First Nations reserve

The First Nations had a meningitis outbreak just 2 weeks before Swine Flu was made public. 1 baby died, another was critical. The chief said another baby had died the week before with similar symptoms...

http://www.theprovince.com/opinion/Manitoba+First+Nations+baby+dies+meningitis/1445119/story.html

http://www.firstperspective.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30:baby-dies&catid=1:latest-news

I uncovered these stories earlier while writing an article that I posted today which included a lot of research on meningitis being induced by influenza. I didn't use the material in the article, but the article covers a lot about the meningitis influenza links...

http://www.opencube.com/h1n1/origin_missouri.htm

I'm not saying these babies had the flu, but this does point out just how vulnerable the First Nation population is to any type of outbreak.

[Snicklefritz]

Re: Novel H1N1 flu outbreak hits isolated First Nations reserve

Commentary

Manitoba Ventilator Request Raises H1N1 Pandemic Concerns
Recombinomics Commentary 23:51
June 8, 2009


Manitoba has experienced an increased concentration of severe respiratory illness admitted to the intensive-care units, which is higher in number than previous influenza outbreaks. The majority of the cases are in people of Aboriginal descent.

The Public Health Agency of Canada has provided three epidemiologists to Manitoba to assist in assessing Manitoba's cases of influenza-like illness.

The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA) is taking steps to provide enough support in intensive-care units (ICUs) and prioritizing patients for personal-care home beds. There are also 15 additional ventilators that have arrived and will be put to use as needed. The WRHA may also defer non-urgent surgical procedures that would normally require ICU care.

The above comment from a Manitoba press release today describes an increasing problem of severe disease in First Nation residents. The increase in number of cases began 1-2 weeks ago and is evident in multiple provinces (see updated map). Last week the medevacing of patients to Winnipeg was detailed this afternoon's press release strongly suggests the problem is growing.

Although it is unclear if these more severe cases are linked to poor health conditions and overcrowding, of if there is a genetic component in the target population or circulating swine H1N1 that is exacerbating the problem, but it is a growing problem and many expand as swine H1N1 spreeads through less developed areas of Asia and Africa.

The circulation of a swine H1N1 in a heterogeneous human population is likely to cause problems, which can grow as the virus adapts to its new host or the virus spreads through populations at greater risk.

Although many local agencies in the United States and Canada have limited testing of mild cases and have begun focusing on the more severe hospitalized cases, the number of frequency of positives continues to grow, even though the flu seasonal has ended in the northern hemisphere.

The spread of the swine H1N1 during the off season may be linked to an avan PB2, which optimizes viral replication at 41C, which may contribute to the rapid spread of the virus.

Most cases have been mild, and the spread of the virus has been largely silent. However, deaths are beginning to mount with three announced today (PA, OK, QB), in addition to three on Friday (TX, WA, NY), six on Thursday (AZ, PA, UT, IL, CA, WI) and seven on Wednesday (3 NY, MI, CT,VA).

These increase in fatalities among a population that is largely under 65, and the increasing admissions to hospitals and ICU's, continue to increase pandemic concerns.

<a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.recombinomics.com/News/06080901/H1N1_MB_Vents.html">Commentary</a>

I see we've come to an agreement, Dr. Niman. That's good news for all