Young Manitoban dies of H1N1 flu

[Gert van der Hoek]

Young Manitoban dies of H1N1 flu

Updated: Thu Jun. 25 2009 16:36:02

ctvwinnipeg.ca

Another Manitoban had died as result of complications from H1N1 flu.

Manitoba Health is reporting the death of a child under 18 years old with what health officials call underlying medical conditions and a prior lab-confirmed positive test for H1N1 flu.

The province says this case is still under investigation, and no age of the child has been given except to say under 18-years old.

They have also not released details about the underlying conditions the child was suffering from.

Previously Manitoba had reported two H1N1 flu deaths.

http://winnipeg.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20090625/wpg_h1n1_death_child_090625/20090625?hub=WinnipegHome

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Young Manitoban dies of H1N1 flu

Victim under age 18 with previous medical condition dies of swine flu

JUNE 25, 2009 |


WINNIPEG - A Manitoba child who tested positive for swine flu has died, pushing the national death toll to 22.

Provincial health officials say the victim was under the age of 18 and had underlying medical conditions.

"The case is still under investigation," Manitoba's health department said in a bulletin, without detailing where in the province the victim was from.

Dr. Joel Kettner, Manitoba's chief medical officer of health, said it's not clear if the H1N1 flu was the cause of death.

He also said he could not give out any information on where the person was from or any other details.

"We will provide more when we get more."

It's the third death related to swine flu in the province.

A Winnipeg man and an aboriginal woman - both in their 40s - previously died from the virus.

Kettner said they are seeing a pattern with the H1N1 virus where people in their 20s, 30s and 40s are dying or getting a more severe form of the influenza.

Usually, in seasonal influenza cases, the hardest hit are those over 65, children under two years old and people with chronic conditions, he added.

"It's not the usual pattern, but it has been observed in previous pandemics," Kettner said.

"It could be older people have been exposed to this kind of virus 50 or more years ago. It may be something about how younger people react to a flu virus they haven't had before because they don't have the antibodies and it may be younger people have a stronger reaction to the virus."

Kettner said about one in 1,000 people who get the H1N1 virus are ending up in hospital severely ill.

It's important for people to recognize when the influenza is severe and to get medical help, the doctor said. Influenza normally doesn't cause shortness of breath, he added.

"If you've get shortness of breath or profound weakness, or dehydration, then it's really like a medical emergency and you need to get prompt care, because early treatment of pneumonia or shock can be live-saving."

Health Canada says there are more than 6,700 laboratory-confirmed cases of the virus in all provinces and territories.

Manitoba has 458 reported cases of swine flu - many of the most serious from remote northern First Nation reserves. First Nation leaders have been calling on Ottawa and the province to declare a state of emergency to deal with the outbreak.

They argue unsanitary and cramped living conditions, as well as poor access to health care have made their communities a breeding ground for the illness.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said he's very concerned about the health of aboriginals living on those reserves, but admitted officials can't explain why they appear to be getting hit harder by swine flu.

Harper, who was in Halifax for a heritage announcement Thursday, said it's distressing that no one appears to know why certain populations are being affected more severely than others.

"I think the truth is we really don't know why the H1N1 virus is more severe among some populations," he said.

"It is a major concern and the Department of Health is working with the communities affected to try to address it."

Liberal MPs who visited the affected aboriginal reserves earlier this week accused the Harper government of not doing enough to help the communities prevent and cope with the outbreak.

This week, the Assembly of First Nations said Health Canada had withheld hand sanitizers from flu-stricken reserves because they contained alcohol. Aboriginal chiefs in Manitoba called the delay "offensive" and demanded an apology from Health Canada and Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq.

Harper said he spoke with Aglukkaq this week about the situation and the government is working with the communities.

http://www.squamishchief.com/article/GB/20090625/CP02/306259854/-1/squamish/victim-under-age-18-with-previous-medical-condition-dies-of-swine-flu&template=cpart