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H1N1 sickens five in Waterloo Region
By Terry Pender, Record staff
WATERLOO REGION? Public health officials confirmed through lab tests that at least five people in this region have H1N1 ? the so-called ?swine flu.??
And two of the people had to be hospitalized. One remains in hospital. Those affected range in age from six to 26.
Health officials say most of the people exposed to the virus, now the dominant strain flu virus in the world, will experience mild to moderate symptoms.
Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, associate medical officer of health for the region, says now is a good time for people to step up their vigilance.
Wash your hands regularly. Sneeze into your sleeve. Keep your hands away from your eyes and mouth.
If you develop a fever or feel sick, stay at home.
?I know we keep repeating it and it gets boring,? Dr. Wang said Thursday of the message.
Still, the routine is considered an effective defence against the disease around the world.
The latest cases of H1N1 are the first in nearly two months. So far this year, Waterloo Region has confirmed 43 cases.
Dr. Wang says lab tests are only done on the most severe cases, or people with underlying health problems, so H1N1 is more widespread in the region than indicated by the tests.
So far H1N1 is blamed for 24 deaths in Ontario.
?Seventy-nine per cent were over the age of 40 and 88 per cent had underlying medical conditions,? Dr. Wang said. ?For those cases who were hospitalized, the average age was 28.?
tpender@therecord.com
http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/610474
By Terry Pender, Record staff
WATERLOO REGION? Public health officials confirmed through lab tests that at least five people in this region have H1N1 ? the so-called ?swine flu.??
And two of the people had to be hospitalized. One remains in hospital. Those affected range in age from six to 26.
Health officials say most of the people exposed to the virus, now the dominant strain flu virus in the world, will experience mild to moderate symptoms.
Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, associate medical officer of health for the region, says now is a good time for people to step up their vigilance.
Wash your hands regularly. Sneeze into your sleeve. Keep your hands away from your eyes and mouth.
If you develop a fever or feel sick, stay at home.
?I know we keep repeating it and it gets boring,? Dr. Wang said Thursday of the message.
Still, the routine is considered an effective defence against the disease around the world.
The latest cases of H1N1 are the first in nearly two months. So far this year, Waterloo Region has confirmed 43 cases.
Dr. Wang says lab tests are only done on the most severe cases, or people with underlying health problems, so H1N1 is more widespread in the region than indicated by the tests.
So far H1N1 is blamed for 24 deaths in Ontario.
?Seventy-nine per cent were over the age of 40 and 88 per cent had underlying medical conditions,? Dr. Wang said. ?For those cases who were hospitalized, the average age was 28.?
tpender@therecord.com
http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/610474