Fatal flu (H3N2) hits northern Manitoba native reserve

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle1823149/

Fatal flu hits northern Manitoba native reserve
JOHN IBBITSON
OTTAWA? From Friday's Globe and Mail
Published Thursday, Dec. 02, 2010 9:19PM EST
Last updated Thursday, Dec. 02, 2010 10:05PM EST

Native leaders in northern Manitoba fear they may be in grip of a lethal influenza outbreak.

One person died last week on a northern reserve in which Influenza A was a factor, according to Joel Kettner, Manitoba?s chief provincial public health officer. Tests are being conducted on other cases, he said. The virus H1N1 is one of a number of influenza viruses within that strain...

...David Harper, grand chief of the Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, which represents most northern Manitoba first nations, said there have been two recent deaths and a third person is very ill. He fears influenza may be a factor in all three cases, and in the illnesses of others.

Both victims were members of Garden Hill first nation, according to David McDougall, chief of nearby St. Theresa Point. ?We heard about it and our community is now on alert for extreme cases of flu,? he said, though he added so far the community had been spared.

The victims were in their 30s and 40s and were healthy before becoming infected with the disease...

[Shiloh]

Re: Fatal flu (H3N2) hits northern Manitoba native reserve

Source: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/spe...111275339.html



The Canadian Press - ONLINE EDITION
Flu deaths on northern Manitoba reserve point to need for more doctors: chiefs

By: The Canadian Press
Posted: 3/12/2010 12:46 PM | Comments: 0


WINNIPEG - The leader of Manitoba's northern chiefs says more doctors are needed to cope with a flu outbreak that has already killed two people...

...The flu outbreak has been confirmed as H3N2, not the H1N1 "swine" flu that hit many northern aboriginal communities last year.

But Harper said the deaths and reports of people coughing up blood make the situation serious enough to warrant more action from federal and provincial health officials...

[Shiloh]

Re: Fatal flu (H3N2) hits northern Manitoba native reserve

Source: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/loc...111272869.html

Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Flu outbreak claims two on reserve

By: Staff Writer
Posted: 3/12/2010 12:01 PM

A flu outbreak in Garden Hill First Nation has left two people dead and a third woman fighting for her life.

And Grand Chief David Harper of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak said more than 20 other residents of the northern community are "coughing up blood..."

...The fatalities are a 35-year-old woman from Garden Hill, and a man around 35 years old who got sick at Garden Hill but was a resident of Red Sucker Lake. The third woman is fighting for her life in hospital in Winnipeg....

[tetano]

Re: Fatal flu (H3N2) hits northern Manitoba native reserve

Garden Hill First Nation Chief David Harper said the outbreak, confirmed as H3N2, is spreading through the remote fly-in community, located on Island Lake about 610 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg.

He said the first person died last week; a second death was confirmed Thursday.

"People are coughing up blood. Is that a common flu? Absolutely not," said Harper, who is calling for the federal and provincial government to step in and help.

'We are alarmed at the information we received from the public health officials that this is no emergency. How many more deaths do we need before we call this an emergency?'?Garden Hill First Nation Chief David Harper

Garden Hill was one of the communities that struggled with swine flu, also known as the H1N1 influenza A virus, in the spring of 2009.

Three people on the reserve died of H1N1 and another death is suspected to have been connected to the virus. Another 50 cases of the virus were confirmed in the Island Lake region.

Harper, who is also the grand chief of the Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO), an organization representing most First Nations communities in northern Manitoba, believes the deaths could have been prevented if the community had more medical staff.

There is only one doctor on the reserve to help thousands of people, he said.

"One doctor for 4,000 people is totally unacceptable," he said, describing the community as having an "illness system" rather than a "health system."

He said the province should be working with the federal Health Department to assist the Garden Hill First Nation but the politicians don't seem to be taking the matter seriously.

"We are alarmed at the information we received from the public health officials that this is no emergency. How many more deaths do we need before we call this an emergency?" Harper said.

"When we make comparisons with H1N1, we had three confirmed deaths with H1N1 and one suspected and here we are today we have two deaths on a common flu."

Health Canada officials refused to discuss the situation and instead provided an email response from spokesperson Christelle Legault.

She said they had provided additional nursing resources to the First Nations in the affected area and that "those residents who are ill will have access to the care they need."


Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/st...#ixzz175B3IJuM

[Giuseppe]

Re: Fatal flu (H3N2) hits northern Manitoba native reserve

Source: Public Health Agency of Canada, full page: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/fluwatch/.../index-eng.php

FluWatch - November 21 to November 27, 2010 (Week 47) [Excerpts]

(...)

Laboratory Surveillance Summary

The proportion of tests that were positive for influenza during week 47 (4.59%, 111/2,418) continued to increase.

This proportion was higher than what was usually observed at this time of the year but much lower than during H1N1 2009 pandemic (see Tests table and Influenza tests graph).

Of the 111 positive tests, 39 specimens were reported as influenza A/H3N2 (AB, MB, ON & QC), 63 as unsubtyped influenza A (AB, SK, MB, ON & QC) and nine as influenza B (AB, SK & ON).

Although the majority of influenza virus detections to date this season were influenza A viruses (93% or 296/317) detections for influenza B viruses are also increasing.

Since the beginning of the season, 98% of the subtyped positive influenza A specimens were for influenza A/H3N2.

During week 47, 38% (12/32) of cases with A/H3N2 reported through the detailed case-based laboratory reporting were aged over 65 years, while since August 29, 2010, the proportion was 49% (52/107) (see Tests detailed table).

In week 47, low levels of respiratory syncytial virus detections (RSV) (3.8%), adenovirus (3.1%), parainfluenza (2.9%), and human metapneumovirus (0.6%) continue to be reported (see Respiratory viruses graph).

(...)


Paediatric Influenza Hospitalizations and Deaths

In week 47, two new laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated paediatric (18 years of age and under) hospitalizations were reported through the Immunization Monitoring Program Active (IMPACT) network.

Both cases were from ON: one case with pandemic H1N1 2009 was aged between 6 and 23 months and one case with unsubtyped influenza A was between 2 and 4 years.

Since the beginning of the season, nine hospitalizations were reported from BC and ON; three as influenza A/H3N2, one pandemic H1N1 2009, three as unsubytped influenza A and two type B.

The distribution of cases to date by age group was as follows: two among 0-5 month olds; two between 6-23 month olds; two among the 2-4 year-olds; and three between 5-9 year-olds.


Adult Influenza Hospitalizations and Deaths

During week 47, two new laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated adult (16 years of age and older) hospitalizations were reported through the Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program (CNISP) from 29 sites.

The two cases aged over 80 years were characterized as unsubtyped influenza A (both from ON).

Since the beginning of the season, 19 hospitalized cases have been reported (5 A/H3N2, 1 pandemic H1N1 and 13 influenza A unsubtyped from BC, ON and QC). 16 of the 19 (84%) cases were aged over 60 years and 11 (58%) were males.

Among the nine provinces and territories conducting severe outcomes surveillance, since the beginning of the season three deaths have been reported among laboratory confirmed influenza cases.

There were two deaths with influenza A among people aged 65 years of age or older in ON (reported on week 40 and 45, respectively) and one death with influenza A/H3N2 aged between 20 and 44 years in MB.

(...)


Antigenic Characterization

Since September 1, 2010, National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) has antigenically characterized 29 influenza viruses (24 A/H3N2 from BC, AB, MB, ON & QC, 1 pandemic H1N1 2009 in ON and 4 B viruses from BC, ON and QC) that were received from provincial laboratories.

The 24 influenza A/H3N2 viruses characterized were related to A/Perth/6/2009, which is the influenza A/H3N2 component recommended for the 2010-11 influenza vaccine.

The pandemic H1N1 2009 characterized was antigenically related to the pandemic vaccine virus A/California/7/2009, which is the recommended H1N1 component for the 2010-11 Northern Hemisphere influenza vaccine.

The four influenza B viruses characterized was antigenically related to B/Brisbane/60/08 (Victoria lineage), which is the recommended influenza B component for the 2010-11 influenza vaccine.

(...)
-
-----

[alert]

Re: Fatal flu (H3N2) hits northern Manitoba native reserve

I believe this is confirmation that this is suspected as seasonal H3N2, not trH3N2.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/special/flu/flu-deaths-on-northern-manitoba-reserve-point-to-need-for-more-doctors-chiefs-111275339.html

[snip]

Dr. Joel Kettner, Manitoba's chief public health officer, said later Friday that the second death had not yet been confirmed as a result of H3N2 although confirmation was expected.

But he said officials have been able to rule out the suggestion that this might be the start of a pandemic.

"We've looked at what this virus is. It's the virus that has been circulating."

There were other underlying medical conditions in both cases that could have contributed, Kellner added.

Overcrowding on reserves, poor diets, poor water and sanitation and other health issues such as diabetes and obesity and restricted access to health care all contribute to increased rates of disease in aboriginal communities, he noted.

[Giuseppe]

Re: Fatal flu (H3N2) hits northern Manitoba native reserve

From post no. 5 (Public Health Agency of Canada):

There were two deaths with influenza A among people aged 65 years of age or older in ON (reported on week 40 and 45, respectively) and one death with influenza A/H3N2 aged between 20 and 44 years in MB.

Why should we speculate if PHAC has already diagnosed the virus?

[Giuseppe]

Re: Fatal flu (H3N2) hits northern Manitoba native reserve

From FluNet database (week 43-to date): http://apps.who.int/globalatlas/data...SOCTRY=CA%40MN

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td align="center">
</td></tr><tr><td class="lables" align="center">Influenza Virological Surveillance -> Guest user -> Number of influenza viruses detected -> A (H1)</td></tr><tr><td class="lables" align="center">(Periodicity: Week, Applied Time Period: from 43/2010 to 53/2010)</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><hr class="lineColor"></td></tr></tbody></table><table style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);"> </td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="center">2010 week: 43</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="center">2010 week: 44</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="center">2010 week: 45</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="center">2010 week: 46</td></tr><tr class="table_rows_Even"><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" width="20%">Canada</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="right">0</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="right">0</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="right">0</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="right">1</td></tr><tr class="table_rows_Odd"><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" width="20%">Mongolia</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="right">0</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="right">0</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="right">0</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="right"> </td></tr></tbody></table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="contentText"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td align="center"><hr class="lineColor"></td></tr><tr><td class="lables" align="center">Influenza Virological Surveillance -> Guest user -> Number of influenza viruses detected -> A (H3)</td></tr><tr><td class="lables" align="center">(Periodicity: Week, Applied Time Period: from 43/2010 to 53/2010)</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><hr class="lineColor"></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);"> </td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="center">2010 week: 43</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="center">2010 week: 44</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="center">2010 week: 45</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="center">2010 week: 46</td></tr><tr class="table_rows_Even"><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" width="20%">Canada</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="right">11</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="right">12</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="right">15</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="right">17</td></tr><tr class="table_rows_Odd"><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" width="20%">Mongolia</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="right">1</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="right">0</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="right">9</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="right"> </td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="contentText"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td align="center"><hr class="lineColor"></td></tr><tr><td class="lables" align="center">Influenza Virological Surveillance -> Guest user -> Number of influenza viruses detected -> A (H5)</td></tr><tr><td class="lables" align="center">(Periodicity: Week, Applied Time Period: from 43/2010 to 53/2010)</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><hr class="lineColor"></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);"> </td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="center">2010 week: 43</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="center">2010 week: 44</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="center">2010 week: 45</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="center">2010 week: 46</td></tr><tr class="table_rows_Even"><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" width="20%">Canada</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="right">0</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="right">0</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="right">0</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="right">0</td></tr><tr class="table_rows_Odd"><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" width="20%">Mongolia</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="right">0</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="right">0</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="right">0</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="right"> </td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="contentText"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td align="center"><hr class="lineColor"></td></tr><tr><td class="lables" align="center">Influenza Virological Surveillance -> Guest user -> Number of influenza viruses detected -> A (not suptyped)</td></tr><tr><td class="lables" align="center">(Periodicity: Week, Applied Time Period: from 43/2010 to 53/2010)</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><hr class="lineColor"></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);"> </td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="center">2010 week: 43</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="center">2010 week: 44</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="center">2010 week: 45</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="center">2010 week: 46</td></tr><tr class="table_rows_Even"><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" width="20%">Canada</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="right">2</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="right">10</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="right">23</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="right">30</td></tr><tr class="table_rows_Odd"><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" width="20%">Mongolia</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="right">0</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="right">0</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="right">0</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="right"> </td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="contentText"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td align="center"><hr class="lineColor"></td></tr><tr><td class="lables" align="center">Influenza Virological Surveillance -> Guest user -> Number of influenza viruses detected -> Pandemic A (H1N1) 2009</td></tr><tr><td class="lables" align="center">(Periodicity: Week, Applied Time Period: from 43/2010 to 53/2010)</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><hr class="lineColor"></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);"> </td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="center">2010 week: 43</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="center">2010 week: 44</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="center">2010 week: 45</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="center">2010 week: 46</td></tr><tr class="table_rows_Even"><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" width="20%">Canada</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="right">0</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="right">0</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="right">0</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="right">0</td></tr><tr class="table_rows_Odd"><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" width="20%">Mongolia</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="right">0</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="right">0</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="right">0</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="right"> </td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="contentText"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td align="center"><hr class="lineColor"></td></tr><tr><td class="lables" align="center">Influenza Virological Surveillance -> Guest user -> Number of influenza viruses detected -> Total A (seasonal and non-seasonal influenza)</td></tr><tr><td class="lables" align="center">(Periodicity: Week, Applied Time Period: from 43/2010 to 53/2010)</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><hr class="lineColor"></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);"> </td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="center">2010 week: 43</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="center">2010 week: 44</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="center">2010 week: 45</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="center">2010 week: 46</td></tr><tr class="table_rows_Even"><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" width="20%">Canada</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="right">13</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="right">22</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="right">38</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="right">48</td></tr><tr class="table_rows_Odd"><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" width="20%">Mongolia</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="right">1</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="right">0</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="right">9</td><td class="contentText" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" align="right"> </td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>

[hawkeye]

Re: Fatal flu (H3N2) hits northern Manitoba native reserve

From Nov. 25th

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency announces quarantine status for a turkey farm in the Rural Municipality of Rockwood, outside of Manitoba, as cases of H5 avian influenza have been confirmed.

http://topnews.us/content/229308-canadian-turkey-farm-under-quarantine

[Shiloh]

Re: Fatal flu (H3N2) hits northern Manitoba native reserve

Source: http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Canada/201...ns-flu-101104/

Manitoba official says flu outbreak under control
The Canadian Press

Date: Saturday Dec. 4, 2010 4:12 PM ET

WINNIPEG ? Manitoba's chief public health officer says a flu outbreak in a northern First Nation is under control.

Doctor Joel Kettner says he spoke to a doctor in the Garden Hill First Nation who told him there is sufficient staffing to deal with the situation...

[alert]

Re: Fatal flu (H3N2) hits northern Manitoba native reserve

http://www.portageonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20068&Itemid=468

The flu is back in Manitoba.

Three deaths have already occurred from influenza in the northern part of the province.

Dr. Joel Kettner is the Chief Provincial Public Health Officer and he says it's something you can't take lightly.



Dr. Kettner says so far they've had nine positive tests in Winnipeg, one from Parkland, two from Norman and 25 from the Burntwood Regional Health Authority. He expects the flu to stick around for the rest of this month and most of January.

[alert]

Re: Fatal flu (H3N2) hits northern Manitoba native reserve

These are the same communities hit severely by H1N1 last year. The thread from last year is below. I wonder if some of the unusual severity in this seasonal flu outbreak is due to lung damage or immune response from last year's H1N1 infections.

http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=107915

[Shiloh]

Re: Fatal flu (H3N2) hits northern Manitoba native reserve

Source: http://www.winnipegsun.com/news/mani.../16424606.html


No evidence virus is more serious than usual: top doc
Last Updated: December 3, 2010 9:50pm

Manitoba?s chief public health officer said it?s too early to tell whether the deaths of two people who had the flu are a signal that more flu-related deaths and serious illnesses are coming.

Joel Kettner said he?s ?always concerned? about influenza and the potential effects the virus can have on Manitobans, but cautioned people not to jump to conclusions about what the deaths of two Garden Hill First Nation residents who caught the flu mean for the rest of the province.

?We don?t have any evidence at this time that we?re dealing with a pandemic or a new virus, or a virus that?s more serious than in previous years,? he said...

[Tonka]

Re: Fatal flu (H3N2) hits northern Manitoba native reserve

Northern Manitoba chief calls for help with killer flu

By Kevin Rollason and Bruce Owen, Winnipeg Free Press
December 6, 2010

A health worker prepares an H1N1 flu vaccine during in a file photo. A flu outbreak in northern Manitoba, has left two people dead and a third person fighting for her life, raising the spectre of another deadly wave of illness in the region.Photograph by: Jose Luis Saavedra, ReutersWINNIPEG ? Aboriginal leaders say the federal and provincial governments must step up efforts to battle a flu outbreak in Garden Hill First Nation that has already left two people dead and a third fighting for her life.


Northern Manitoba Grand Chief David Harper said the reserve has only one doctor for its 4,000 residents and ongoing problems with overcrowded housing and lack of running water are making a bad situation worse.


Harper said more than 20 people are being treated for flu at the reserve ? including a three-year-old and five-year-old.


"(Provincial officials) are saying this is just a common flu, but when people are coughing up blood, this is not a regular flu," Harper said....


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