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Severe Flu Cases Surge in Manitoba - Aboriginal Community Hit Hard
Re: Suspected H1N1 flu outbreak hits isolated First Nations reserve
This is odd. If the cases are confirmed, why won't they say so? Are the privacy restrictions that severe that they won't even identify the communities with H1N1?
Re: Suspected H1N1 flu outbreak hits isolated First Nations reserve
Thankfully it's summer - kids can play outside and adults have many outdoor activities.
I wonder how a crowded housing situation compared to a classroom, when we are considering transmission rates. I believe in the Karo H5N1 cluster, people sleeping together in small rooms increased attack rates - which may be comparable to students in a classroom for 6+ hours/day.
.
"The next major advancement in the health of American people will be determined by what the individual is willing to do for himself"-- John Knowles, Former President of the Rockefeller Foundation
Manitoba Health needs to get its act together
Via Province of Manitoba: News Releases, Bulletin #16 H1N1 Flu, issued this afternoon:
Manitoba Health and Healthy Living is reporting 27 new confirmed H1N1 cases in people between the ages of one month and 56 years, bringing the provincial total to 38 cases in six regions across Manitoba. Of the new cases, three patients have been hospitalized.
Thirteen of the new confirmed cases were in males and 14 in females. The three new confirmed cases in the Burntwood region are from two First Nation communities. "Burntwood" is the name of a rural health authority that includes St. Theresa Point, so the Burntwood cases may be from there.
But when I called Chief David McDougal of the St. Theresa Point First Nation, he hadn't heard anything but rumours. That's a pretty appalling breakdown in communications. One way or the other, he should be been among the first to know
.............Are the privacy restrictions that severe that they won't even identify the communities with H1N1?
If you'd lost your baby, would you want the world to know and possibly have reporters on your doorstep? I say respect the privacy of the grieving.
.
"The next major advancement in the health of American people will be determined by what the individual is willing to do for himself"-- John Knowles, Former President of the Rockefeller Foundation
WINNIPEG -- The H1N1 influenza virus is responsible for at least two cases of severe illness at St. Theresa Point, officials confirmed today.
H1N1 flu confirmed on First Nations
Staff Writer
3/06/2009 2:46 PM | Comments: 0
Print E?mail Share ThisWINNIPEG ? The H1N1 influenza virus is responsible for at least two cases of severe illness at St. Theresa Point, officials confirmed today.
While test results for more than a dozen residents is pending, Manitoba Health officials said the H1N1 influenza virus has sickened three people in two First Nation communities.
St. Theresa Point Chief David McDougall said there?s a total of 20 residents from the community in Winnipeg hospital suffering from flu-like symptoms, including three of his nieces. The fly-in reserve has already heightened its pandemic preparations by handing out masks, cancelling classes, and telling workers to stay at home.
The news that H1N1, also known as swine flu, surfaced in the First Nations community came the same day as 25 new cases of the illness in Winnipeg.
Winnipeg health officials have said none of the cases were related to a local outbreak.
Meanwhile, one paramedic was tested for H1N1 influenza after transporting ill patients from St. Theresa Point First Nation to a Winnipeg hospital.
The suspected cases of H1N1 arrived from St. Theresa Point on a flight last Friday.
Tim Scharer, vice-president of the Professional Paramedic Association of Winnipeg, said the two paramedics who responded to the flight to transport the patients to hospital weren?t forewarned about potential exposure to the respiratory illness.
Paramedics have been told to wear full gowns, gloves, and masks when responding to suspect H1N1 cases, also known as swine flu.
Scharer said neither paramedic has exhibited symptoms of the flu, and the test results are not available yet.
"They?re a little frustrated because our department has taken all the precautions," he said
Re: Suspected H1N1 flu outbreak hits isolated First Nations reserve
The indigenous peoples of America both north and south have typically suffered significantly more from diseases brought to them by Europeans. I agree with the conclusion of Dr. Niman and Alert that the cause of the epidemic in the First Nation's community is Novel H1N1 and am not surprised by its virulence.
What is of interest here is what will happen to those in this community who become ill with influenza and comparing their outcomes with those seen in Mexico. Why? Because the people affected by this flu epidemic in Canada are more similar genetically to those who live in Mexico than they are to the majority of those who live in the US, Canada or Europe.
In other words, one thing that differentiates Mexico from the most of the US, Canada and the EU is the high percentage of indigenous peoples that live there. Could it be that novel H1N1 has a higher CAR and CFR for persons of indigenous American ancestry compared with those of European ancestry?
It would be of interest to determine if those seriously ill within the US or who have died of this disease are genetically related to the North American indigenous population. If so, this could help those caring for the victims of this pandemic to be better at determining who to focus their resources on and who not to.
OTOH, it is clear from genetic studies that the indigenous population of the Americas came predominately across a land/ice bridge from Siberia and are closely related to those who live in Japan, Mongolia, Siberia and Tibet. If it turns out that the North American indigenous population is uniquely susceptible to the novel influenza, will the same be true for the related groups in Asia and their much closer relatives, the native population of South America?
Many questions yet few answers. Welcome to the world of influenza.
Re: Suspected H1N1 flu outbreak hits isolated First Nations reserve
Nunavut with the smallest population and least dense of Canada: 31.152 inhabitants (2008)<SUP></SUP>disseminated on a surface similar to that of Western Europe. Its population is to 85% Inuit.
Re: Suspected H1N1 flu outbreak hits isolated First Nations reserve
May 20th, 2009 - 12:10 pm
Phoenix, ARIZONA (BNO NEWS) ? A 57-year-old woman became Arizona?s second swine flu death last week, officials said on Tuesday afternoon.
?It was a 57-year-old female from Pinal County, Arizona,? said Alia Maisonet, who is a spokeswoman for the Gila River Indian Reservation.
The indigenous peoples of America both north and south have typically suffered significantly more from diseases brought to them by Europeans. I agree with the conclusion of Dr. Niman and Alert that the cause of the epidemic in the First Nation's community is Novel H1N1 and am not surprised by its virulence.
What is of interest here is what will happen to those in this community who become ill with influenza and comparing their outcomes with those seen in Mexico. Why? Because the people affected by this flu epidemic in Canada are more similar genetically to those who live in Mexico than they are to the majority of those who live in the US, Canada or Europe.
In other words, one thing that differentiates Mexico from the most of the US, Canada and the EU is the high percentage of indigenous peoples that live there. Could it be that novel H1N1 has a higher CAR and CFR for persons of indigenous American ancestry compared with those of European ancestry?
It would be of interest to determine if those seriously ill within the US or who have died of this disease are genetically related to the North American indigenous population. If so, this could help those caring for the victims of this pandemic to be better at determining who to focus their resources on and who not to.
OTOH, it is clear from genetic studies that the indigenous population of the Americas came predominately across a land/ice bridge from Siberia and are closely related to those who live in Japan, Mongolia, Siberia and Tibet. If it turns out that the North American indigenous population is uniquely susceptible to the novel influenza, will the same be true for the related groups in Asia and their much closer relatives, the native population of South America?
Many questions yet few answers. Welcome to the world of influenza.
Grattan Woodson, MD
My guess is that the patient's general health is the key factor in determining the effect of the virus. I expect the outbreak to be severe, but not because of genetic factors, I also suspect that spread to less developed regions of Asia and Africa will also generate a more deadly clinical course.
This virus is in high gear and doesn't read WHO press releases on Phase 5.
Re: Suspected H1N1 flu outbreak hits isolated First Nations reserve
Manitoba Health and Healthy Living is reporting additional cases of H1N1 influenza in the province.
Acting Chief Provincial Public Health Officer Dr. Elise Weiss says 27 new cases have been reported, bringing the total up to 38.
Weiss adds those cases are represented in 6 RHA's in Manitoba -- Brandon, Burntwood, Nor-Man, Parkland, South Eastman and Winnipeg.
She notes the three new cases reported in Burntwood region represent two first nation communities.
Healthy Living measures such as proper hand washing are still being encouraged and can help reduce the spread of disease.
Re: Suspected H1N1 flu outbreak hits isolated First Nations reserve
OTTAWA, June 3 (Xinhua) -- A mysterious flu has sent at least a dozen people from an isolated community to hospital in central Canada's Manitoba province, local media reported Wednesday.
While most people are experiencing mild symptoms, the flu has caused two pregnant women to fall seriously ill, including one who lost her child, the Canadian Press cited Chief David McDougall of the St. Theresa Point First Nation as saying.
It has also prompted the community to cancel some public events.
The community of 3,200, located roughly 500 kilometers northeast of provincial capital Winnipeg, is only accessible by air.
Tests are underway to see if the illnesses are being caused by the new A/H1N1 flu virus that has circulated in many countries. The provincial and federal governments have sent more doctors and nurses there.
Provincial health officials would not discuss St. Theresa Point on Wednesday, and would only say that 27 new cases of the H1N1 flu have been confirmed across the province, bringing the total to 38.
Of the new cases, three were from the sprawling health region that includes St. Theresa Point, but it is not known which communities the cases come from. The uncertainty has prompted some residents of the reserve to wear masks. Officials are asking people to wash their hands frequently and take other precautions including limiting contact.
Re: Suspected H1N1 flu outbreak hits isolated First Nations reserve
I am not sure of why this thread is calling the H1N1 swine outbreak "suspect". It was rather clear that it was swine H1N1 when the influenza A data was announced, and now the H1N1 diagnosis has been confirmed. This is a classic swine flu outbreak with slow relase of data that quite obviously extends the data of the first few confirmed cases.
The "suspect" designation apears to be linked to unsupported speclation that the swine H1N1 was something other than swine H1N1, which wasn't supported when posted, and now has been shown to be false.
I am not sure of why this thread is calling the H1N1 swine outbreak "suspect". It was rather clear that it was swine H1N1 when the influenza A data was announced, and now the H1N1 diagnosis has been confirmed. This is a classic swine flu outbreak with slow relase of data that quite obviously extends the data of the first few confirmed cases.
The "suspect" designation apears to be linked to unsupported speclation that the swine H1N1 was something other than swine H1N1, which wasn't supported when posted, and now has been shown to be false.
Manitoba Health won't say if First Nations reserve has swine flu
By Crawford Kilian June 3, 2009 08:40 pm
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A remote First Nations reserve in northeast Manitoba may be at the centre of the next pandemic. But Manitoba Health won't tell them what's going on.
On Tuesday, the Ottawa Citizen reported in passing that the St. Theresa Point First Nation had sent seven persons by medevac to Winnipeg, 500 kilometres to the southwest. Two of the patients were pregnant, and one lost her child soon after.
By Wednesday night, 20 reserve residents had been flown out, and Manitoba Health finally released a statement:
Manitoba Health and Healthy Living is reporting 27 new confirmed H1N1 cases in people between the ages of one month and 56 years, bringing the provincial total to 38 cases in six regions across Manitoba.
Of the new cases, three patients have been hospitalized. Thirteen of the new confirmed cases were in males and 14 in females. The three new confirmed cases in the Burntwood region are from two First Nation communities.
Burntwood covers St. Theresa Point, but MH did not identify the First Nations communities with H1N1 cases.
When The Tyee contacted Chief David McDougall on Wednesday afternoon, he said he had had no official news about the cases, only rumours.
When The Tyee called again on Wednesday night, Chief McDougall said he had heard -- not from Manitoba Health -- that the two Burntwood cases were indeed from St. Theresa Point.
"This contravenes how First Nations people should be treated," he said.
He added that the mother of a 10-month-old child with suspected H1N1 had not been told clearly what her daughter's problem was. "She's not familiar with medical terminology," Chief McDougall said.
By 10 p.m. Manitoba time, Chief McDougall said, he still didn't have official confirmation about the two cases, not to mention the other 18 who have been flown out to Winnipeg.
He said he plans to hold a press conference in the morning.
Meanwhile, CBC reported on Wednesday that two paramedics had been flown into St. Theresa Point without being alerted to the possible illness of the patients they were to look after.
After returning to Winnipeg, the paramedics went on to look after other patients. CBC said the paramedics were now off duty and awaiting test results.
Crawford Kilian is a contributing editor of The Tyee.
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........What is of interest here is what will happen to those in this community who become ill with influenza and comparing their outcomes with those seen in Mexico. Why? Because the people affected by this flu epidemic in Canada are more similar genetically to those who live in Mexico than they are to the majority of those who live in the US, Canada or Europe.
In other words, one thing that differentiates Mexico from the most of the US, Canada and the EU is the high percentage of indigenous peoples that live there. Could it be that novel H1N1 has a higher CAR and CFR for persons of indigenous American ancestry compared with those of European ancestry?
It would be of interest to determine if those seriously ill within the US or who have died of this disease are genetically related to the North American indigenous population. If so, this could help those caring for the victims of this pandemic to be better at determining who to focus their resources on and who not to.
OTOH, it is clear from genetic studies that the indigenous population of the Americas came predominately across a land/ice bridge from Siberia and are closely related to those who live in Japan, Mongolia, Siberia and Tibet. If it turns out that the North American indigenous population is uniquely susceptible to the novel influenza, will the same be true for the related groups in Asia and their much closer relatives, the native population of South America?..........
Landmark Study Reveals Significant Genetic Variation Between Mexico's Population And World's Other Known Genetic Subgroups
ScienceDaily (May 12, 2009) — Could genetic differences explain why some people and not others have died of H1N1 Influenza A? That is among the questions raised by a landmark Mexican study showing significant genetic variation between Mestizos (Latin Americans of mixed European and Amerindian ancestry) and the world's other known genetic subgroups.
The study, by Mexico's National Institute of Genomic Medicine (INMEGEN), is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
Led by Dr. Gerardo Jimenez-Sanchez of INMEGEN, a team of 16 Mexican researchers, analyzed the genetic composition of 300 Mestizos from six geographically distant states in Mexico and one Amerindian population (30 members of the indigenous Zapotecas group in the state of Oaxaca).
They discovered that genetically the Mexican Mestizo and Indigenous populations are substantially different from the three other known human genetic subgroups (Yoruba from Africa, Caucasians of European descent, and the Chinese and Japanese of Asia), whose DNA make-ups were documented through the historic International HapMap Project, 2002 to 2006.
The Mexican research was undertaken to establish the comparability of Latino genomes to others in the global search for health-related genes throughout humanity.
A recent study in Asia identified a genetic characteristic in Asians that indicates a susceptibility to Hepatitis B; other studies have identified people with genetic predispositions to HIV1 or Kawasaki Disease.
While the latest work is at far too early a stage to enlighten authorities on the current outbreak of H1N1 Influenza A, it may one day help explain why, for example, with cases of that virus appearing worldwide, fatalities to date have occurred almost exclusively in Mexico.
Says Dr. Jimenez-Sanchez: "It is not possible today to say genetic variation is responsible for the unique H1N1 Influenza A mortality rate in Mexico. However, knowledge of genomic variability in the Mexican population can allow the identification of genetic variations that confer susceptibility to common diseases, including infections such as the flu."
"It will also help develop pharmacogenomics to help produce medicines tailored to people of a specific genetic group, to the creation of drugs that are both safer and more effective."
President of Mexico, Felipe Calderon Hinojosa commended the achievement. "The genomic map of the Mexican population is an essential contribution of Mexico to science and public health. This study represents an important landmark to develop genomic medicine in Mexico to improve healthcare of its population. I commend our National Institute of Genomic Medicine, INMEGEN, for such a significant milestone."
The young National Institute of Genomic Medicine in Mexico City was established in 2004 under then-Health Minister Julio Frenk, now Dean of the School of Public Health, Harvard University.
"This study makes clear that Latin Americans with mixed ancestry are different enough from other people worldwide that a full-scale genomic mapping project would be wise both scientifically and economically. It would allow doctors to analyze fewer genetic markers when diagnosing the risk that a patient will develop a disease that depends on complex factors," says Dr. Frenk.
"Mexico has created a state-of-the-art genomic medicine institution, unique in Latin America, where world-class scientific research can be developed to understand the molecular relationships between humans and germs. This valuable facility will enable Mexico to prepare for the health challenges that await us all in the future."
Dr. Edison T. Liu, President of the Human Genome Organization (HUGO) said: "This work by the INMEGEN group is important both for the scientific content which can be used to direct personalized medicine in Mexico, but also for its sociologic impact in defining the uniqueness of Mexico's genetic heritage."
"Studies such as this are helping us define the future of the genome era," says Dr. Jeffrey Trent, President of the Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, Arizona. "Gaining a clearer understanding of how genetic variation plays a role in disease, including the risk to some infections, will help tip the scales in our favour in terms of understanding and treating disease at the individual level."
"We have studied a number of genomics initiatives in the developing world and emerging economies, recently published in Nature Reviews Genetics. There is no doubt that INMEGEN is a unique institution and one of the most advanced in the world in terms of its infrastructure but, more importantly, in its linkage to the national health system. It is a model for the rest of the world," said Prof. Abdallah Daar of the McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health at the University Health Network and University of Toronto.
The INMEGEN study was financially supported by the Federal Government of Mexico, with in-kind support of the Mexican Health Foundation (FUNSALUD) and the Gonzalo Río Arronte Foundation.
Background:
The human genome project (1990-2004) identified common genetic variation, mostly Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs), which provide the basis for genetic individuality. Genetic variants associated to susceptibility to common disease and the ability to predict disease-associated risks and response to treatments are the basis of genomic medicine.
The International HapMap Project (2002-2006) systematically analyzed genetic variation in three ancestral populations: Yoruba from Africa, Caucasian of European descent, Han Chinese and Japanese from Asia. This project created a haplotype map of these populations as a tool to identify disease-related genes in a more efficient way. This project did not include the Latin American populations, which are of recent admixture from ancestral populations that include native Indians of the region. This represented a potential risk of segregating Mexican population from genomic medicine in the future.
Mexico is developing a national platform in genomic medicine. In 2004, the Mexican government founded the National Institute of Genomic Medicine (INMEGEN) to conduct world-class scientific research, implement technological platforms and develop educational programs in genomic medicine (http://www.inmegen.gob.mx).
In addition to generating important scientific information, INMEGEN's Mexican Genome Diversity Project has produced unprecedented human and technological infrastructure in Mexico in less than 5 years. INMEGEN is the most advanced institution in Latin America with the ability to study interactions between humans and the environment, including microorganisms, enabling Mexico to prepare for future challenges. It's research aims to identify genetic variation that predisposes to common diseases in Mexicans.
A haplotype map provides a resource of significant impact to enable faster identification of disease-related genes. However, the question was whether the HapMap from ancestral populations would fit the Mexican population. This study indicates that the genetic structure in the Mexican population would identify tagSNPs that better fit this population and speed genome-wide association studies and admixture mapping at a much lower cost. This would be a corner stone to develop genomic medicine in Mexico.
Goal of the Mexican Genome Diversity Project: To determine common genomic variation in the Mexican Mestizo population and compare different regions in Mexico, as well as to compare such variability with results from the HapMap. In addition, the project produced a simple visual map of the genetics of different population groups throughout the country (http://diversity.inmegen.gob.mx).
In general, the Mestizo genomes occupy points on a linear spectrum that ranges from Amerindian to European. There are major differences between Mexican Mestizos and subgroups of the HapMap such as Africans or Chinese, although Mexican Mestizos share 96 percent of their haplotypes with the complete HapMap population.
Haplotype sharing analysis showed that all Mexican subpopulations share, on average, 86% (84-87%) of the common haplotypes when one subpopulation is used as a reference and that the proportion of shared haplotypes increases to an average of 96% (95-97%) when each subpopulation is compared to any pair of the studied subpopulations. These results support the idea that a haplotype map of the Mexican Mestizo population may help reduce the number of tagSNPs required to characterize common genetic variation in this population.
1.Irma Silva-Zolezzi, Alfredo Hidalgo-Miranda, Jesus Estrada-Gil, Juan Carlos Fernandez-Lopez, Laura Uribe-Figueroa, Alejandra Contreras, Eros Balam-Ortiz, Laura del Bosque-Plata, David Velazquez-Fernandez, Cesar Lara, Rodrigo Goya, Enrique Hernandez-Lemus, Carlos Davila, Eduardo Barrientos, Santiago March, and Gerardo Jimenez-Sanchez. Analysis of genomic diversity in Mexican Mestizo populations to develop genomic medicine in Mexico. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2009; DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0903045106
2.Jimenez-Sanchez, G. Developing a Platform for Genomic Medicine in Mexico. Science, 2003; 300 (5617): 295 DOI: 10.1126/science.1084059
3.Seguin B, Hardy BJ, Singer PA, Daar AS. Genomics, public health and developing countries: the case of the Mexican National Institute of Genomic Medicine (INMEGEN). Nature Reviews Genetics, 2008; 9S5 DOI: 10.1038/nrg2442
4.Jimenez-Sanchez G, Silva-Zolezzi I, Hidalgo A, March S. Genomic medicine in Mexico: Initial steps and the road ahead. Genome Research, 2008; 18 (8): 1191 DOI: 10.1101/gr.065359.107
Adapted from materials provided by National Institute of Genomic Medicine, Mexico.
Databases of the Genomic Map of the Mexicans: The frequencies of the genetic variants (SNPs) of the samples analyzed are in a public database, available at http://diversity.inmegen.gob.mx (Credit: Image courtesy of National Institute of Genomic Medicine, Mexico)
Could genetic differences explain why some people and not others have died of H1N1 Influenza A? That is among the questions raised by a landmark Mexican study showing significant genetic variation between Mestizos (Latin Americans of mixed European and Amerindian ancestry) and the world's other known genetic subgroups.
"The next major advancement in the health of American people will be determined by what the individual is willing to do for himself"-- John Knowles, Former President of the Rockefeller Foundation
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