Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.lotwenterprise.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2136425
Lake of the Woods Enterprise
Monday, October 19, 2009
H1N1 virus suspected in Kenora
Medical officer of health confirms federal officials are considering moving up the H1N1 vaccine to clinical distribution by Oct. 26
Posted By Jon Thompson
Dr. Jim Arthurs hasn?t seen the tests to prove it yet but anecdotally, he senses the H1N1 virus has hit Kenora.
?I have friends and acquaintances sick enough with (influenza-like illnesses),? said the Northwestern Health Unit?s medical officer of health. ?They are healthy people who are in the young adult range who are sicker than they have been in years and we have to assume that we have H1N1 in our community ?but we?re only testing where people are ill enough to be hospitalized.?
Research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association has revealed that although most autumn cases of the so-called ?swine flu? were mild, one in 1,000 infected with the virus required a great deal of care. Young women were particularly impacted by H1N1, the study found, as 67 per cent of those admitted to intensive care units in Canada were female, women accounted for 72 per cent of deaths.
Breaking with most studies to date that have shown there to be underlying health conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, congestive heart failure and cerebral palsy, the research showed 69.6 per cent had no prior conditions but rather health risks associated with those ailments such as obesity, high blood pressure and smoking. Pregnant women were confirmed to be at higher risk.
?We don?t know why this is so,? Arthurs said. ?We know that (women) shouldn?t get infected any easier than anyone else but they do seem to be sicker when they get it and that applies to pregnant women as well as other women. To say that they?re healthy is a bit of a stretch because smoking is not healthy and obesity is not healthy. They may not be carrying a diagnosis of diabetes or lung disease but they have the risk factors for those disease in the future.?
Pointing out that smoking cessation can provide a noticeable difference within a week, Arthurs called quitting ?the best thing you can do for your health today,? and called upon those engaging in high-risk lifestyle choices to recognize they are at greater risk.
Arthurs confirmed information leaked to the CBC this week, saying federal officials are considering moving up the H1N1 vaccine to clinical distribution by Oct. 26, not in November as had been previously announced.
According to the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, 14 people were in hospitals with confirmed cases of H1N1 as of 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 7 and 373 others have been hospitalized then discharged. The ministry confirmed the rate of influenza-like illness in patients seen by sentinel physicians was above the average rate expected at this time of year.
Lake of the Woods Enterprise
Monday, October 19, 2009
H1N1 virus suspected in Kenora
Medical officer of health confirms federal officials are considering moving up the H1N1 vaccine to clinical distribution by Oct. 26
Posted By Jon Thompson
Dr. Jim Arthurs hasn?t seen the tests to prove it yet but anecdotally, he senses the H1N1 virus has hit Kenora.
?I have friends and acquaintances sick enough with (influenza-like illnesses),? said the Northwestern Health Unit?s medical officer of health. ?They are healthy people who are in the young adult range who are sicker than they have been in years and we have to assume that we have H1N1 in our community ?but we?re only testing where people are ill enough to be hospitalized.?
Research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association has revealed that although most autumn cases of the so-called ?swine flu? were mild, one in 1,000 infected with the virus required a great deal of care. Young women were particularly impacted by H1N1, the study found, as 67 per cent of those admitted to intensive care units in Canada were female, women accounted for 72 per cent of deaths.
Breaking with most studies to date that have shown there to be underlying health conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, congestive heart failure and cerebral palsy, the research showed 69.6 per cent had no prior conditions but rather health risks associated with those ailments such as obesity, high blood pressure and smoking. Pregnant women were confirmed to be at higher risk.
?We don?t know why this is so,? Arthurs said. ?We know that (women) shouldn?t get infected any easier than anyone else but they do seem to be sicker when they get it and that applies to pregnant women as well as other women. To say that they?re healthy is a bit of a stretch because smoking is not healthy and obesity is not healthy. They may not be carrying a diagnosis of diabetes or lung disease but they have the risk factors for those disease in the future.?
Pointing out that smoking cessation can provide a noticeable difference within a week, Arthurs called quitting ?the best thing you can do for your health today,? and called upon those engaging in high-risk lifestyle choices to recognize they are at greater risk.
Arthurs confirmed information leaked to the CBC this week, saying federal officials are considering moving up the H1N1 vaccine to clinical distribution by Oct. 26, not in November as had been previously announced.
According to the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, 14 people were in hospitals with confirmed cases of H1N1 as of 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 7 and 373 others have been hospitalized then discharged. The ministry confirmed the rate of influenza-like illness in patients seen by sentinel physicians was above the average rate expected at this time of year.