2nd H1N1 wave likely starting in Nunavut

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2nd H1N1 wave likely starting in Nunavut

Last Updated: Tuesday, December 1, 2009 | 4:25 PM CT

CBC News

Nunavut health officials are urging anyone who has not received the H1N1 flu shot to get it, especially pregnant women and people with chronic medical conditions. (CBC)


Nunavut has recorded 15 new swine flu infections in the past two weeks, prompting health officials to warn that a second H1N1 flu wave is likely beginning.

The territory's Health Department is strongly encouraging anyone who has not already received the H1N1 flu shot to get it now, according to a public health advisory sent Tuesday.

While the vaccine was offered to all of Nunavut's 25 communities during a territory-wide immunization campaign last month, it is still available at local health centres, including the public health clinic in Iqaluit.

Health officials are especially urging pregnant women and people with chronic health conditions to make sure they are vaccinated, since they are at a a greater risk of getting sick.

More than 500 mostly mild cases of swine flu were confirmed in Nunavut during the first outbreak, which started in late May and continued through the summer. A pregnant woman died of the virus in July.


http://www.cbc.ca/canada/north/story/2009/12/01/nunavut-h1n1-cases.html

 

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Re: 2nd H1N1 wave likely starting in Nunavut

http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2009/12/08/nunavut-h1n1-cases.html?ref=rss

More H1N1 cases reported in Nunavut
Health minister still won't name affected communities
Last Updated: Tuesday, December 8, 2009 | 10:18 AM ET
CBC News

The number of swine flu cases in Nunavut continues to rise, but Health Minister Tagak Curley says it doesn't necessarily mean a second flu wave is underway.

Since health officials announced 15 lab-confirmed H1N1 influenza cases on Dec. 1, another 17 cases have been diagnosed, Curley told MLAs in the legislature on Monday.

Curley said none of the recent cases have required hospitalization.

"I'm not in a position as a minister to confirm whether or not there is a second wave, but our chief medical health officer did indicate it could possibly be," Curley said, adding that it's important that everyone get the flu shot if they haven't done so already.

The new cases followed a 16-day vaccination campaign last month, in which more than 18,000 people in all of Nunavut's 25 communities got the H1N1 flu shot.
Communities not named

When the first round of new cases was announced, chief medical health officer Dr. Isaac Sobol said a second H1N1 wave was "likely" beginning in Nunavut.

On Monday, Curley maintained the Health Department's position of not naming communities where people are sick, despite recent statements to the contrary by the territory's information and privacy commissioner.

In October, Elaine Keenan Bengts told MLAs that she sees no reason not to name communities that are affected by a communicable disease.

But Curley reaffirmed the department's stance, saying the commissioner's remarks were not clear.

He added that the Health Department is focused on curbing the spread of the H1N1 virus, not its disclosure policy.

 

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Re: 2nd H1N1 wave likely starting in Nunavut

The new cases followed a 16-day vaccination campaign last month, in which more than 18,000 people in all of Nunavut's 25 communities got the H1N1 flu shot.

That's more than half the population vaccinated if Wikipedia is correct.