Severe Flu Cases Surge in Manitoba - Aboriginal Community Hit Hard

[Muscade]

H1N1 flu forum announced

By: Bruce Owen
5/06/2009 11:54 AM | Comments: 0


The Canadian Public Health Association and the Manitoba Public Health Association will hold a public forum on health, fairness and human rights focusing on the H1N1 influenza outbreak, the recession and world-wide health inequalities.


The session will be held June 8 at the Winnipeg Convention Centre, Rooms 3 & 4, first floor. It starts at 7 p.m. in conjunction with the CPHA national conference.


It will be moderated by Manitoba’s chief public health officer, Dr. Joel Kettner.


Journalist André Picard will give a short address on how the media, government and public health officials have responded to the three global ‘pandemics’.


The program calls for CPHA delegates and the public to discuss the issues with Manitoba Health Minister Theresa Oswald, Manitoba Human Rights Commission executive director Dianna Scarth, Business Council of Manitoba president Jim Carr and former University of Manitoba president Arnold Naimark.


For full conference program go to: http://www.cpha.ca/en/conferences/conf2009.aspx

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/loc...-47051037.html

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/st...swine-flu.html


Winnipeg hotels cautioned against overreacting to flu symptoms
Last Updated: Friday, June 5, 2009 | 2:32 PM CT Comments0Recommend2
CBC News

Manitoba's acting chief public health officer is sending a letter to the province's hotel association, cautioning its members to avoid dealing differently with people exhibiting flu-like symptoms.

The letter is in response to reports that a Winnipeg hotel asked people from St. Theresa Point First Nation to leave the premises on Thursday.

That is the same day that swine flu was confirmed in two residents of the remote Manitoba community.

More than 200 people from the reserve, located about 500 kilometres from Winnipeg, have reported being ill in the past week. The majority of them are being treated in the community, but 21 have been sent to hospitals in Winnipeg.

Of those, two are in critical condition. They are women in their 20s, including one who was pregnant but has since had a miscarriage.

Dr. Elise Weiss said there is no reason for people who might have flu symptoms to be treated any differently.

"It doesn't make a difference in terms of where people eat, live, work or play. The public health precautions are the same everywhere," she said. "So therefore, there should be no reason to make any differences, any different public health recommendations, whether it's for hotels or any other public sites."

Public exposed to illness all the time

The spread of the current strain of H1N1 influenza A virus, which first appeared in Mexico in April, has caused fear, but it is important to remember that people are exposed to all sorts of illnesses in the normal course of the day, Weiss said.

During a normal flu season, between 4,000 and 8,000 Canadians — mostly seniors — will die from pneumonia related to flu, according to Health Canada. So far, H1N1 has been blamed for three deaths in the country.

Some St. Theresa residents who are in Winnipeg to be with hospitalized family members were told to move out of the St. Regis Hotel on Thursday. Kyle Wyatt, the hotel's general manager, said he was contacted by Health Canada and told to transfer the St. Theresa guests to another facility.

He did not have an exact number of people affected, but did say it was guests from five rooms. Health Canada did not explain to him why the guests had to be moved out.

CBC News has put in an interview request with Health Canada but has not yet had those calls returned.

Hotels association looking for guidance

Jim Baker, head of the Manitoba Hotels Association, said he has been trying to get information from health officials about what to do in such a situation. It's tough for hotel owners to know what to do in a situation where potentially infected guests could be checking in, he said.

"We do know that this is how a flu gets passed," Baker said. "You know, whether it's swine flu or avian flu or whatever, it gets passed by communication. So, you know, what do you do?"

Weiss said her letter would outline how the hotels should handle those matters. She said the situation underscores the reason the province doesn't identify the exact communities where H1N1 cases have been confirmed. Those people can become stigmatized, she said.

"People will assume that there is a risk from a certain community when, really, it is not the case. It's unfortunate, and it shouldn't be that way," she said. "[H1N1] is present at this point in time throughout the province, so it's expected."

Normal precautions should be taken by anyone to stay healthy, she advised.

Health officials have limited the release of details of individual cases to the public in the health region in which the patients live. The cases in St. Theresa Point were revealed by that community's leaders, not the province.

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-... or 1-888-3....

[tropical]

Originally Posted by Shiloh

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/st...swine-flu.html

Winnipeg hotels cautioned against overreacting to flu symptoms
...
Dr. Elise Weiss said there is no reason for people who might have flu symptoms to be treated any differently.

"It doesn't make a difference in terms of where people eat, live, work or play. The public health precautions are the same everywhere," she said. "So therefore, there should be no reason to make any differences, any different public health recommendations, whether it's for hotels or any other public sites."

Public exposed to illness all the time
...
During a normal flu season, between 4,000 and 8,000 Canadians — mostly seniors — will die from pneumonia related to flu, according to Health Canada. So far, H1N1 has been blamed for three deaths in the country.
...

Of course, the public health precautions are the same everywhere -

- they are NON-existant everywhere worldwide, but the particular spoted infected places.

This highlighted "during the normal season ... mostly seniors - will die from pneumonia related to flu" echoing expression, realy iritate.

At least, these poor seasonal flu victims had an little hope by shields seasonal flu vaccines, when now we have no vaccines at all.

I hope that some free range web sites speculations a few years ago about such actual posible unfolding novel flu scenario and its continuation, weren't truthfull.

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.canada.com/Federal+health...339/story.html

Federal health minister denies Manitoba offered swine flu help.
By Jordana Huber, Canwest News ServiceJune 5, 2009

TORONTO - Federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq said Friday that Manitoba's health minister never offered to help Ottawa with pandemic flu planning on First Nations.

Aglukkaq said she has daily conversations about the swine flu virus with health ministers across the country but that Manitoba Health Minister Theresa Oswald never made any offers or expressed concerns.

``Last week I spoke to her and this was never raised,'' Aglukkaq said. ``She has never made this offer to me or expressed concerns in regards to what's written in the papers today.''

St. Theresa Point, a remote First Nation in northern Manitoba has confirmed two cases of swine flu and 20 residents of the community have been flown to Winnipeg hospital suffering with flu-like symptoms.

Hundreds more have reported symptoms in the community of 3,200.

Oswald said Thursday the Manitoba government had offered Ottawa help with pandemic planning on First Nations 13 times since May 4 but was repeatedly turned down.

Oswald expressed frustration at the federal government's response to the H1N1 flu outbreak when it comes to First Nations such as St. Theresa Point, saying the province had been prevented from doing more because it doesn't have jurisdiction.

Aglukkaq said Friday that Canada's pandemic plan applies everywhere in the country and that she will continue to work with the provinces and territories as it is implemented.

``We're dealing with a virus, H1N1, that does not see culture, that does not see whether you're First Nations, Inuk, a white person and so on."

With files from Winnipeg Free Press

[Muscade]

Editorials

Asleep at the switches

By: Editorial June 6 top
6/06/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 0



IT is difficult to sort through the divergent stories of provincial and federal officials concerning the public health response to the H1N1 outbreak on Manitoba's First Nations reserves, to piece together the source of the difficulty. It is alarming, however, that Manitoba Health Minister Theresa Oswald asserts her federal counterpart has spurned offers of help, specifically to make available such basic flu-fighting equipment such as masks and anti-viral medication.


It appears that a great deal of talk has gone on among officials, bureaucrats and front-line workers to "prepare" for the deadly pandemic that public health experts have been warning is imminent. The swine flu, so far, has not proven to be virulent and a good thing, too, because the experience at St. Theresa Point, in northern Manitoba, shows that if it were the deadly sort, the virus would have had its way with a relatively small population in a fairly remote place.

There were 21 people from that community in hospital in Winnipeg mid-week, with hundreds more of the 3,000-plus residents registering at the health centre as suffering symptoms of flu. St. Theresa is one of three reserves at Island Lake, not far from Garden Hill and Wasagamack.

Conditions on the reserves are much like those in other Manitoba First Nations -- crowded, substandard housing with substandard sewer and water infrastructure that permits the spread of disease with a rapidity unseen in most urban Canadian centres.

These communities are primed to be hotbeds for pandemic alarm. Logically, they should be at the top of the list for a federal-provincial outbreak response. But fully two months after this country was alerted to H1N1, ministers are giving contradictory accounts about the fine details that people will depend upon with their lives. Friday, federal Health Minister Leona Agluggaq insisted there was no hint of any problem in her recent conversation with Ms. Oswald.

Ms. Oswald's most disconcerting assertion was that this province offered repeatedly to make anti-viral medications available to the reserves, but was turned down.

Canadians expect the hundreds of switches in both jurisdictions to flip instantly when emergency hits. The first news of an outbreak at St. Theresa came from doctors there concerned that the public was unaware of a brewing emergency, with official notice following days later.
The exchange between Ms. Oswald and Ms. Agluggaq does not inspire confidence. The first task is to ensure Island Lake residents get necessary care. A clear account of the dispute should be made public when the emergency has passed and a review has been conducted.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opi...-47117377.html

[Muscade]

Feds vow to start talking

Officials will be available to publicly discuss flu pandemic

By: Mia Rabson
6/06/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 0



OTTAWA -- Manitoba Health Minister Theresa Oswald said Friday she has received assurances that federal officials will become more available to communicate with Manitobans about pandemic flu issues.Oswald spoke with Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq by phone Friday -- a day after Oswald criticized the federal government for poor communication and for refusing help from Manitoba in addressing the H1N1 flu outbreak.

Oswald said Thursday the province had offered 13 times to help the federal government since May 4 and was consistently told it wasn't needed until Wednesday, when the outbreak of the illness among St. Theresa Point residents became apparent.

More than 20 people from the remote community, 470 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg, have been hospitalized in Winnipeg with influenza. Three have been confirmed as having H1N1 influenza. Several hundred more in the community who are showing respiratory symptoms have registered with the nursing station.

Oswald said one of her biggest frustrations was Ottawa's refusal to let local federal health officials participate in news conferences to give information about what was happening.

Manitoba officials do not feel comfortable providing information specific to reserves, said Oswald, but requests to have the federal officials on the ground attend provincial news conferences were consistently denied, she said.

Aglukkaq told Oswald Friday that would no longer happen.
"She agreed we have to do more joint communications," Oswald said. "I am happy with that."

Oswald said she didn't mean to start a "fist fight" with Aglukkaq and said her comments Thursday were not meant to imply the federal health officials in Manitoba were doing a poor job.

"The team on the ground is doing a good job," she said.

On Friday morning, Aglukkaq said she had spoken to Oswald several times since H1N1 arose in late April and that Oswald had never offered any help.
The province quickly countered, saying it wasn't help offered on the ministerial level but by officials on the ground, as established crisis-response procedures dictate.

Aglukkaq's spokeswoman confirmed Friday afternoon the two ministers spoke by phone.

"They are working towards the same goal," she said.

"Our minister is in weekly touch with all of her provincial and territorial counterparts. Departmental officials are in daily touch with the provinces."
Manitoba has jurisdiction for public health for everyone except those living on First Nations communities, which fall under Ottawa's purview.

There are well-established pandemic plans for provinces but extending those plans to First Nations appears to be lagging behind.

In 2005, the Public Health Agency of Canada identified as a problem the lack of agreements between Health Canada and the provinces about who will do what on reserves during a public health crisis.

Four years later those agreements are still being worked on, and while all First Nations are meant to have their own pandemic flu plans, not all of them do.

The Island Lake Tribal Council, of which St. Theresa Point is a member, was in the midst of retooling its plan when this outbreak hit.

mia.rabson@freepress.mb.ca

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/loc...-47117357.html

[blacknail]

I remember reading somewhere that the 1918 Pandemic almost wiped out some first nations communities in Northern Canada. It wasn't known whether it was underlying medical conditions or genetic predisposition that caused it. That being said, there is far more TB and other health problems including chronic substance abuse on Canada's Indian Reserves. Anyone from Western Canada will tell you that you avoid driving on reservations if at all possible. A friend of mine struck and killed a toddler who was wandering alone in the middle of a highway at 2 AM. There was recently a case in Saskatchewan of two toddlers freezing to death because their father was drunk and left them outside, for which the band gave him a slap on the wrist. Dogs run wild and maul children, etc. It is not surprising that any flu outbreak would be more severe in this population and doctors are leaving these communities in droves because they fear for their lives (imagine carrying medications that many in the community would do anything to have). The fact that so many have been taken out of the community for treatment is completely routine and there is nothing that would make me think that this is a novel virus.

[sharon sanders]

Wow. That is extremely biased.

This is the kind of attitude that prevents progress. It is backward and uneducated.


I do not think I have read something so ignorant in a long time.

[K. Taylor]

Originally Posted by Florida1

"is a wake-up call for governments to address poor living conditions and improve health care for aboriginals."

They need more than a wake up call. Health officials in Canada need a kick in the head. They took a month to test for H1N1 despite the fat that 1/3 of the community was ill with the disease, and refused 13 times to allow anti-virals in? There is a really good post: "if this isn't sytematic racism, what is it?" that nails this issue. http://crazybitchesrus.blogspot.com/...f-is-isnt.html

[K. Taylor]

There is a really good post: "if this isn't sytematic racism, what is it?" that nails the issue of racism in the health care sytem. http://crazybitchesrus.blogspot.com/...f-is-isnt.html
also check out http://thetyee.ca/Blogs/TheHook/Heal...anitobaHealth/
that speaks to the chiefs frustrations

[sharon sanders]

Originally Posted by K. Taylor

They need more than a wake up call. Health officials in Canada need a kick in the head. They took a month to test for H1N1 despite the fat that 1/3 of the community was ill with the disease, and refused 13 times to allow anti-virals in? There is a really good post: "if this isn't sytematic racism, what is it?" that nails this issue. http://crazybitchesrus.blogspot.com/...f-is-isnt.html

The post from the above link:



Saturday, June 6, 2009

St. Theresa First Nation -If is isn't systematic racism, what is it?


The state of health conditions on reserves should have identified First Nations as high-risk for pandemic alarm and put these communities at the top of the list for pandemic planning. Clearly this did not happened. Why? If is isn't systematic racism, what is it? This issue is larger than the current H1N1 virus, which is fortunately mild. We've learned that a future, more virulent pandemic will devastate First Nations communities if the system does not improve. The H1N1 also shows why disease and viral infections cause needless deaths in First Nation communities every year.

So let's consider what we already know about the epidemiology of H1N1 at St. Theresa's.

2005-Canada's Public Health Agency warned that First Nations would be at risk in event of a pandemic unless inter-jurisdictional protocols were developed along with plans for delivering antivirals.
-2009, May 01-31-1356 people st the St. Theresa First Nation(total pop 3,200) visit the nursing station. That's more than 1/3 of the community. 567 of these reported respiratory illness. The nursing station reported the spike to Health Canada and provincial/regional health authorities.

May 4-Provincial health officials offer to provide anti-viral medication to St. Theresa's. Federal health officials, who have jurisdiction over the reserve, refuse (story)

May 4-30-The province repeats it's offer to bring anti-virals to St. Theresa 13 times. Each time Health Canada refuses.

-mid-May St. Theresa's school is closed to control the spread of the virus. Federal provincial health authorities are notified as well as the federal department of Indian Affairs. While this should have been a red flag, there has still been no testing for H1N1 at this point and federal officials continue to refuse offers of help from the province.

May 26-27 Because there has been no testing for H1N1, no warning is issued to avoid large gatherings. A Manitoba General Chief's Assembly is held at St. Theresa Point.

May 26-June 1- Health officials fly two additional nurses and two doctors to St. Theresa Point

May 26-June 1 - 7 people including 2 pregnant women are medivaced to Winnipeg with suspected H1N1

May 29-June 6 -Testing for H1N1 begins
June 1-5-The spike in continues, 96 cases of respiratory illness are reported to the nursing station in 5 days.

June 2- Media first picks up the story that 7 people including 2 pregnant women have been medivaced to Winnipeg from St. Theresa

June 3 - The federal government finally accepts the province's offer to help, anti-virals and masks are sent to the community.

June 3 - One of the pregnant women miscarries, the other delivers by emergency C-setcion. The two women and infant are in critical condition.

June 3 - Two cases of H1N1 are confirmed at St. Theresa Point First Nation, a third case is confirmed at nearby South Indian Lake.

June 3- The total number of hospitalized patients from St.Theresa's doubles to 20, hundreds more in the community complain of respiratory illness

June 4- St. Theresa Chief David McDougall holds a press conference with two other chiefs from a neighbouring reserve. He complains of the initial slow action, poor communications and the government's refusal to build a hospital to serve remote First Nations communities. They also state that a lack of running water in some communities and over-crowded housing (12 persons per home) make it difficult to comply to health and safety recommendations such as avoiding gatherings and hand washing.

June 5 - Manitoba Health Minister Theresa Oswald goes public with allegations that federal officials originally refused help from he province. She adds that federal officials have refused to participate on press conference to share information with the public.

June 5th - Federal officials agree to participate in future press conferences. They send an epidemiologist to the community to investigate how the virus spread.

[blacknail]

Florida1 - I used to live in another part of the World and would have agreed with you. Now that I drive on Indian Reserves in Western Canada weekly, I can tell you that the conditions on the reserves are terrible. I am not stating who is to blame for the situation. I am simply reassuring anyone who does not understand the conditions on Western Canadian Indian Reserves that an outbreak of any illness will appear to be more severe because of the poor health of this population.

In a lot of reserves, the chief makes conditions as bad as possible to get the maximum government funding. I have seen countless examples of this. It does not surprise me that there are people playing the race card to place the blame on the Canadian government. Our government will eventually issue an apology and a cheque and no one will be any further ahead. To me the whole situation is sad and I think if more Canadians paid attention to the plight of our reserves they would be as disgusted as I am and demand a better solution from both sides.

[tropical]

seems that history fields events never ends; once nailed, nailed forever ...

the "western"'s movies continuation,

or there are some more laws to set up there

[sharon sanders]

Originally Posted by blacknail

Florida1 - I used to live in another part of the World and would have agreed with you. Now that I drive on Indian Reserves in Western Canada weekly, I can tell you that the conditions on the reserves are terrible. I am not stating who is to blame for the situation. I am simply reassuring anyone who does not understand the conditions on Western Canadian Indian Reserves that an outbreak of any illness will appear to be more severe because of the poor health of this population.

In a lot of reserves, the chief makes conditions as bad as possible to get the maximum government funding. I have seen countless examples of this. It does not surprise me that the chief in this case is playing the race card to place the blame on the Canadian government. Our government will eventually issue an apology and a cheque and no one will be any further ahead. To me the whole situation is sad and I think if more Canadians paid attention to the plight of our reserves they would be as disgusted as I am and demand a better solution from both sides.

I think you do not see how these statement appear. They appear ignorant and racist.

1) I would like to see some proof that "a lot" of First Nations Chiefs make conditions "as bad as possible" on the reserves to obtain maximum government funding.

2) I would like to see some evidence that the chief in this case is playing the race card in order to blame the Canadian government with the aim of obtaining a check.


It appears that the Manitoba provincial health officials agree with the First Nations in this case:

"...Manitoba Health Minister Theresa Oswald said Friday she has received assurances that federal officials will become more available to communicate with Manitobans about pandemic flu issues.Oswald spoke with Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq by phone Friday -- a day after Oswald criticized the federal government for poor communication and for refusing help from Manitoba in addressing the H1N1 flu outbreak..."

[cartski]

Originally Posted by Florida1

I think you do not see how these statement appear. They appear ignorant and racist.

Agreed. Bravo for moderating these posts F1. Horrible things happen in all parts of the world, in all levels of socio-economic status. But hope for a better life binds us all together.

I'm not sure that delving into the politics of this situation is worthwhile. Chasing down the evidence to prove or disprove allegations of fraud or racism may be better addressed in another forum. Indeed, the meeting tonight runs a great risk of becoming a free-or-all about the divisiveness in Government - Aboriginal affairs, and FT runs this same risk. Yes, these are important issues as they are in all states that have a disadvantaged minority; however, disease outbreak are the primary concerns of this forum.

J.

[sharon sanders]

Cartski you are right, of course.

Political discussions do not belong on FT.


FluTrackers Mission Statement:

FluTrackers.com Inc. is dedicated to the public health of the world’s citizens by advancing policies, protocols, innovations, and practices that improve the health of vulnerable populations. We will enhance the health of communities by informing, educating, developing and maintaining integrated programs. We recognize and stress the importance of the relationship between human rights and health status.

[sharon sanders]

http://www.aundeckomnikaningfn.com/a...r-regalia?i=14

[cartski]

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]

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 Santé 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]

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]

Originally Posted by Snicklefritz

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]

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]

Originally Posted by Snicklefritz

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]

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]

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.

[Muscade]

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/st...-winnipeg.html

[HenryN]

Commentary

[sharon sanders]

Originally Posted by blacknail

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/for...lay.php?f=1407

[pflu]

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/M...119/story.html
http://www.firstperspective.ca/index...=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]

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.

Commentary

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