Doc's dire warning comes amid new H1N1 deaths

[Tonka]

http://www.calgarysun.com/news/alberta/2009/11/06/11655616-sun.html

Doc's dire warning comes amid new H1N1 deaths
Flu claims four more Albertans

By BILL KAUFMANN, SUN MEDIA

Last Updated: 6th November 2009, 3:59am

As four more H1N1 deaths were confirmed in Alberta, the nation's top doctor said the virus is rapidly spreading in the West, with death and hospitalization rates three times greater than a week ago. The four deaths -- which brings Alberta's H1N1 toll to 18 -- occurred in the Edmonton and Calgary, in the centre of the province and the deep south.

The latest deaths come as no surprise, said Dr. Gerry Predy, senior medical officer of health for Alberta Health Services (AHS).

"Given the amount of influenza in the community, four deaths is not unexpected," said Predy.

Three of the four latest victims suffered from underlying medical conditions while two of them were elderly, the other two middle-aged, he said.

With the virus surging across the country, particularly in the West, Newfoundland and the territories, those deaths are likely a harbinger for more trying times ahead, said Dr. David Butler-Jones, Canada's chief public health officer.

"We expect to hear of more illness and deaths in the coming weeks as we go further into the second wave," he said.

"Anybody that thinks we've seen anything but the beginning of this ... it's a bit of wishful thinking."

Butler-Jones said he expects the virus' spread to surpass in a few weeks the first wave's peak recorded last June.

Predy said the vaccination in Alberta of at least 400,000 people has "probably prevented up to 1,000 hospitalizations."

But he said even if the most recent fatal flu victims had been inoculated, it would have been too late to save them.

Provincial health officials say they're ready with enough equipment like ventilators to deal with the pandemic, whose victims now comprise 25% of hospital admissions.

So far, 439 Albertans have been hospitalized with the virus, which has killed at least 105 Canadians.

Yesterday, local AHS officials said Calgary hospitals were extremely busy -- due significantly to H1N1 -- even as staff was re-deployed to handle vaccination clinics.

The province is spending more than $100 million on everything from hospital beds to vaccine to fight H1N1.

BILL.KAUFMANN@SUNMEDIA.CA

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: Doc's dire warning comes amid new H1N1 deaths

Brace for more swine flu deaths, top MD warns

Virus spreading faster across Canada

Meagan Fitzpatrick, Canwest News Service Published: Friday, November 06, 2009

Four new swine flu-related deaths were reported in Alberta on Thursday as the nation's top physician warned Canadians to be prepared for the toll to climb in the coming weeks as the H1N1 pandemic is showing no signs of slowing down.

On the contrary, the spread of the H1N1 virus picked up speed over the past week, Chief Public Health Officer Dr. David Butler-Jones told a news conference, and its prevalence is nearing levels that were seen at the peak of the first wave in June.

Butler-Jones said there are more regions reporting outbreaks, especially in the western provinces, and the number of hospitalizations and intensive-care unit admissions has tripled since last week.

"We expect to hear of more illness and deaths in the coming weeks as we go further into the second wave. This is something we have to be prepared for as much as it saddens us," said Butler-Jones.

"It's why prevention remains our goal, for all Canadians to be immunized when their turn comes and ensure appropriate treatment with antivirals for those who are ill."

The latest death toll from the Public Health Agency of Canada indicates that 115 Canadians with H1N1 have died.

This week's toll is believed to include a two-month-old baby from London, Ont. Ethan Bailey Desabrais died of influenza but test results were pending to determine if it was the H1N1 strain.

"I was trying to save my son," said the little boy's mother, Carla Desabrais.

"We were driving down the street and we were yelling for any emergency vehicle that was coming toward us. ... Every day is a haze."

The Desabrais's nine-year-old daughter and 18-month-old son both have been vaccinated. Ethan was not eligible because he was under six months of age.

The child was pronounced dead at hospital.

"Go get the shot," the mother said Thursday.

Health officials in Alberta, meanwhile, announced that they had seen four more deaths in the past few days.

Butler-Jones said there were no indications the virus is being held at bay.

"Not a bit. Anybody that thinks that we've seen anything but the beginning of this, I think that would be lovely, but it's a bit of wishful thinking. This will continue to increase," he said.

Getting the H1N1 vaccine into people's arms is the key measure to slow the spread of the pandemic, and as people await their turn for their shot, other prevention methods, such as people staying home when sick, coughing into their sleeves and frequent handwashing are important, he advised.

Butler-Jones is also offering his advice in full-page advertisements appearing in 125 newspapers across the country today and Saturday.

In the advertisement, Butler-Jones writes that he wants to provide "the facts" about the H1N1 immunization program, which has been under heavy attack by opposition MPs on Parliament Hill.

He assures Canadians there will be enough vaccine for the entire population and that "getting vaccinated is a safe and effective way to protect yourself and others" from the virus.

During Thursday's news conference, Butler-Jones said the provinces and territories are administering the H1N1 vaccine as quickly as they can and by early next week, he anticipates that six million Canadians will have been immunized.

Fine-tuning delivery

Clinics are still fine-tuning how they deliver the vaccine, and that includes figuring out ways to use every last drop of it.

There have been reports about some doses being tossed out at the end of the day. Butler-Jones said each vial contains 10 doses and he hopes that wastage is "minimal."

"I think that's something that everybody should and will be looking at."
Butler-Jones and federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq both expressed their thoughts on the reports this week that some NHL players have been immunized ahead of the general population, while people in high-risk groups have been lining up for hours since clinics opened last week.

"I'm pleased that they are so keen and interested in getting the vaccine, it shows how important it is, but please wait until your group is ready," said Butler-Jones.

An Alberta Health Services employee was fired after Calgary Flames players and their families, were allowed to get the vaccine and in Ontario, health officials are promising to investigate how some players with the

Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors got their shots.
"I think a review of this issue is merited. I don't feel that at this point in time that the time is right for this to happen, but it is something that we will be looking into," said Ontario's chief medical officer, Dr. Arlene King.

http://www.nationalpost.com/story.html?id=2191638