Ontario - H1N1 virus claims Niagara resident

[Gert van der Hoek]

H1N1 virus claims Niagara resident

SWINE FLU: Death a reminder to be 'on alert'

Posted By MONIQUE BEECH, SUN MEDIA


The H1N1 flu virus has claimed its first Niagara resident.

A person over the age of 50 died somewhere outside Niagara this week of symptoms associated with the virus, says the Niagara Region public health department.

Dr. Robin Williams, the region's medical officer of health, said the public should see the death as a reminder to continue to vigilantly protect themselves against the respiratory disease.

"H1N1 is circulating broadly across our community," Williams said.

"Everyone needs to be on alert and aware. It's not like meningococcal (meningitis), where you have circles of exposure.

"This is broadly across our communities and across Ontario."

Health officials would not release the victim's age, sex, where the person resided in the region or where the person was when he or she died, citing privacy issues.

Nor would officials say whether the person died strictly of the virus commonly known as swine flu or had other medical complications that contributed to the individual's death.

"Either way, with underlying complications or not, what's significant about this (flu) is a large number of people who are young and healthy have been sick, very sick, and some have died," Williams said.

"Complications are not relevant. All of the public needs to be careful, especially people born after 1957 because there appears to be some form of protection for those who are older."

Normally, the flu poses a much bigger risk to seniors, not younger adults, Williams said.

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Re: Ontario - H1N1 virus claims Niagara resident

http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1648489

Flu death a reminder to remain alert: MD
Posted By MONIQUE BEECH , STANDARD STAFF
Posted 14 hours ago


The H1N1 flu virus has claimed its first Niagara resident.

A person over the age of 50 died somewhere outside Niagara this week of symptoms associated with the virus, says the Niagara Region Public Health Department.

Dr. Robin Williams, the Region's medical officer of health, said the public should see the death as a reminder to continue to vigilantly protect themselves against the respiratory disease.

"H1N1 is circulating broadly across our community," Williams said.

"Everyone needs to be on alert and aware. It's not like meningococcal (meningitis), where you have circles of exposure. This is broadly across our communities and across Ontario."

Health officials would not release the victim's age, sex, where the person resided in the region or where the person was when he or she died, citing privacy issues.

Nor would officials say whether the person died strictly of the virus commonly known as swine flu or had other medical complications that contributed to the individual's death.

"Either way, with underlying complications or not, what's significant about this (flu) is a large number of people who are young and healthy have been sick, very sick, and some have died," Williams said.

"Complications are not relevant. All of the public needs to be careful, especially people born after 1957 because there appears to be some form of protection for those who are older."

Normally, the flu poses a much bigger risk to seniors, not younger adults, Williams said.

Since the outbreak began, Niagara has had 14 confirmed cases of the virus, which includes symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.

Williams said the cases are just the "tip of the iceberg."

Because of the large number of cases, people with minor symptoms of the virus are no longer being tested across the province, she said.

"We don't know how big the iceberg is because the 14 cases are only those who are most sick."

Still, most people who contract H1N1 recover. H1N1 has claimed fewer lives across Ontario than the seasonal flu, said Ontario Ministry of Health spokesman David Jensen.

Across the province, 14 people have died and 3,464 cases of the virus have been confirmed, according to the most recent ministry data.

Meanwhile, 300 to 400 people typically die during regular flu season every year, Jensen said. Deaths are unfortunate, but "not unexpected," Jensen said.

Williams said she hopes a vaccine is developed over the summer and the virus is better understood before fall comes and flu season returns.

The World Health Organization moved H1N1 to a Phase 6 pandemic -- the highest level -- last month.