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Source: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2009/06/11/ontario-swineflu.html
Ontario prepared to deal with swine flu pandemic, authorities say
Last Updated: Thursday, June 11, 2009 | 4:05 PM ET
CBC News
Ontario's top medical officials say the World Health Organization's decision Thursday to declare swine flu to be a Phase 6 pandemic was the right step ? and that people in the province should not worry unnecessarily.
"We have a plan in place to monitor and assess the H1N1 flu virus. We will continue to implement that plan with our partners and agencies and to co-ordinate our response activities with the Public Health Agency of Canada," Dr. David Williams said at a news conference in Toronto.
Williams said the WHO took the correct step by declaring the H1N1 flu to be an official pandemic. The province's acting chief medical officer of health said the decision was made because of geographic spread, not the severity of the disease.
Williams said the cases in Ontario have not been severe.
After seven weeks of swine flu in the province, Ontario has 14 people with the virus in hospital at the present time. Thirty people have been hospitalized over that period. Two people have died, although swine flu was not believed to be the main factor in those deaths.
Williams told the news conference that '"if the virus were to increase in severity, additional measures would be undertaken" to protect the population.
On Wednesday, the province updated the number of confirmed swine flu cases.
The total number of cases reported in the province is now up to 1,562.
Ontario prepared to deal with swine flu pandemic, authorities say
Last Updated: Thursday, June 11, 2009 | 4:05 PM ET
CBC News
Ontario's top medical officials say the World Health Organization's decision Thursday to declare swine flu to be a Phase 6 pandemic was the right step ? and that people in the province should not worry unnecessarily.
"We have a plan in place to monitor and assess the H1N1 flu virus. We will continue to implement that plan with our partners and agencies and to co-ordinate our response activities with the Public Health Agency of Canada," Dr. David Williams said at a news conference in Toronto.
Williams said the WHO took the correct step by declaring the H1N1 flu to be an official pandemic. The province's acting chief medical officer of health said the decision was made because of geographic spread, not the severity of the disease.
Williams said the cases in Ontario have not been severe.
After seven weeks of swine flu in the province, Ontario has 14 people with the virus in hospital at the present time. Thirty people have been hospitalized over that period. Two people have died, although swine flu was not believed to be the main factor in those deaths.
Williams told the news conference that '"if the virus were to increase in severity, additional measures would be undertaken" to protect the population.
On Wednesday, the province updated the number of confirmed swine flu cases.
The total number of cases reported in the province is now up to 1,562.