BC records 8 more deaths in past week, 23 total now, & 202 more hospitalizations

[Roehl_JC]

Eight more H1N1 flu deaths in B.C.; 202 more people need hospital care
(CP) ? 1 hour ago

VANCOUVER, B.C. ? Eight more people have died in B.C. in the last week after getting the H1N1 flu.

That brings to 23 the number of people who have died in the province since April and health officials say in all but one of those cases the patients had underlying medical conditions.

In the past week, 202 people have had to be hospitalized in B.C. after they contracted the H1N1 flu, for a total of 601 admissions so far.

Officials say most of the lab-confirmed cases have been mild or moderate, with the patients either having already recovered or those who are currently recovering.

Meanwhile, supplies of the flu vaccine in B.C. are dwindling, and while more is coming by the end of the week, it won't be distributed until the beginning of next week.

Pregnant women and children between six months and five years are among the priority groups to get the shot, but some doctors' offices have informed parents that they've run out of the vaccine for young kids.

Copyright ? 2009 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved


http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5ja22WY0TdYyBIjwmPDhgzKCT4SkQ

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: BC records 8 more deaths in past week, 23 total now, & 202 more hospitalizations

H1N1 claims 8 more lives in B.C.

Provincial toll rises to 23

Last Updated: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 | 1:45 PM PT

CBC News

Twenty-three deaths have been linked to the swine flu outbreak in B.C. (CBC)


Eight more deaths in B.C. have been blamed on swine flu and the number of severe cases continues to rise, health officials said Tuesday.
In total, the B.C. Centre for Disease Control has confirmed 601 severe H1N1 cases in the province since April, including 23 deaths. In 22 of the fatal cases there were underlying medical conditions.

The eight most recent deaths included:

• Three in the region handled by Vancouver Coastal Health.
• Three on Vancouver Island.
• Two in the Fraser Health area.

The majority of laboratory-confirmed cases in B.C. have been mild or moderate in severity, with the patients either recovering or already recovered, officials said.


But since Nov. 3, there has been a significant increase in severe cases, to 202 in the past week compared with 162 in the previous week. The latest week's total included:

• 96 in the Fraser Health region.
• 47 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region.
• 44 in the Interior Health region.
• 11 in the Northern Health region.
• Four in the Vancouver Island Health region.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2009/11/10/bc-swine-flu-update.html

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: BC records 8 more deaths in past week, 23 total now, & 202 more hospitalizations

Young child among eight B.C. residents to die of H1N1 flu in past week

By: THE CANADIAN PRESS
10/11/2009 10:48 PM |

<!--endclickprintexclude-->VANCOUVER, B.C. - A young child is among eight people who have died in B.C. in the last week after getting the H1N1 flu.

That brings to 23 the total number of people who have died in the province since the virus surfaced last April. Health officials say that in all but one of those cases the patients had underlying medical conditions.
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Dr. Perry Kendall, the province's medical health officer, said Tuesday that an eight-year-old is among the dead but he couldn't release any information about the child's pre-existing condition or about any of the others.

Kendall said the death toll is not unexpected, and it's much less than the number of deaths annually from the seasonal flu virus.

"We've been expecting and preparing for these additional cases and this number of deaths," he said.

Between 200 and 800 people die in B.C. every year from the seasonal flu but the difference is that younger people are dying of the H1N1 virus, Kendall said.

"It appears that the number of people who die from H1N1 will be significantly less than what we would see even in a mild seasonal influenza year."

However, Kendall said he encourages people to get vaccinated because the H1N1 virus will be around for several years, even after a possible third wave.

"So it's up to us really, if we want to see a third wave and more cases or whether we want to get ourselves protected."

The province has not yet reached the peak of the second wave of the H1N1 flu, Kendall said, adding that 20 per cent of British Columbians have been immunized so far.

So far, 601 people have been hospitalized since last spring, he said. Most of the lab-confirmed cases have been mild or moderate.

Meanwhile, supplies of the flu vaccine in B.C. are dwindling, and Kendall said some clinics may be closing this week.

He said the province is expecting about 250,000 more doses on Thursday, but they won't be packaged and sent to clinics until early next week.

Pregnant women and children between six months and five years are among the current priority groups to get the shot, but some doctors' offices have informed parents that they've run out of the vaccine for young kids.

He said authorities may decide by the end of next week whether the H1N1 shot will be offered to more people, starting with first responders such as firefighters and police.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sp...esidents-to-die-of-H1N1-flu-in-past-week.html