Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1776522
Next wave of swine flu hits Niagara
Posted By Grant LaFleche, Standard Staff
Posted 55 mins ago
As far as Dr. Doug Sider is concerned, there is no doubt the next wave of swine flu is already in Niagara.
?It?s not a hypothetical threat,? the Niagara Region?s associate medical officer of health told The Standard?s editorial board Wednesday. ?It?s here now and we?ll find out in the next few weeks how widespread it is, and I suspect it?s more prevalent than we think.?
Sider said the public health department is waiting for test results for people around Niagara who recently had flu-like symptoms.
He suspects many of these people will be suffering the effects of contracting the H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu.
Given the typical spread of flu, and H1N1 information from Australia, New Zealand and South American countries that have already gone through their flu season, Sider said it?s highly likely there already are many local cases.
However, the public health department repeated its plea for the public not to panic.
?This is, in most cases, a very mild illness,? said Dr. Val Jaeger, acting associate officer of health. ?Most people will feel lousy for three or four days, treat with Tylenol and then they are fine.?
During the last outbreak of H1N1 in Niagara, there were 21 confirmed cases and one person died.
The public health department said there will be far more cases across the region as the flu season gets underway. As with the regular season flu, some people will die, Sider said.
While the virus is already infecting people locally, Sider said it will be between four and five weeks before the H1N1 vaccine is deployed.
The vaccine to be used in Canada is still awaiting final federal approval before it can be used, Sider said. In the meantime, the public health department is preparing its vaccination strategy, which has been made all the more complex because there are two flus to deal with.
Next wave of swine flu hits Niagara
Posted By Grant LaFleche, Standard Staff
Posted 55 mins ago
As far as Dr. Doug Sider is concerned, there is no doubt the next wave of swine flu is already in Niagara.
?It?s not a hypothetical threat,? the Niagara Region?s associate medical officer of health told The Standard?s editorial board Wednesday. ?It?s here now and we?ll find out in the next few weeks how widespread it is, and I suspect it?s more prevalent than we think.?
Sider said the public health department is waiting for test results for people around Niagara who recently had flu-like symptoms.
He suspects many of these people will be suffering the effects of contracting the H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu.
Given the typical spread of flu, and H1N1 information from Australia, New Zealand and South American countries that have already gone through their flu season, Sider said it?s highly likely there already are many local cases.
However, the public health department repeated its plea for the public not to panic.
?This is, in most cases, a very mild illness,? said Dr. Val Jaeger, acting associate officer of health. ?Most people will feel lousy for three or four days, treat with Tylenol and then they are fine.?
During the last outbreak of H1N1 in Niagara, there were 21 confirmed cases and one person died.
The public health department said there will be far more cases across the region as the flu season gets underway. As with the regular season flu, some people will die, Sider said.
While the virus is already infecting people locally, Sider said it will be between four and five weeks before the H1N1 vaccine is deployed.
The vaccine to be used in Canada is still awaiting final federal approval before it can be used, Sider said. In the meantime, the public health department is preparing its vaccination strategy, which has been made all the more complex because there are two flus to deal with.
