Alberta - Medical mystery in Morley: Flu-like symptoms leave infant dead, 14 in hospital

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Hattip: Diane Morin

Medical mystery in Morley: Flu-like symptoms leave infant dead, 14 in hospital

Bryan Passifiume
Published:
April 5, 2018

Updated:
April 5, 2018 9:20 AM MDT

Calgary SUN News Alberta

MORLEY ? An investigation into the death of an infant on the Stoney Nakoda First Nation continues as officials try to determine what caused the child?s death and hospitalized 14 other people Wednesday.

Emergency medical services spokesman Stuart Brideaux said the victims appeared to be suffering from influenza-like symptoms.

?At this time, EMS is working to sort out the potential origin of the circumstances today, but at this time it seems to be of medical nature,? he told reporters.

Brideaux said there was no concern the patients had suffered any trauma or violence, adding it?s unlikely carbon monoxide was a factor.

The symptoms were mainly respiratory, said Brideaux.

?Largely these are the typical symptoms we see in any seasonal flu,? he said.
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http://calgarysun.com/news/provinci...en-route-to-hospital-from-home-in-morley-alta

 

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AHS EMS
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@ahs_ems
19h19 hours ago

UPDATE: This afternoon, #YourEMS transported 10 pediatric and four adult patients with influenza like symptoms from a single residence on the Stoney Nakoda First Nation.
‏
@ahs_ems
20h20 hours ago

Nakoda and AHS EMS were called to a residence in the Nakoda community around 11:45. One child was declared deceased on scene and 14 pediatric patients are being transported to hospital for additional assessment and treatment. #YourEMS
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https://twitter.com/ahs_ems?ref_src...with-flu-like-symptoms-near-calgary-1.3871555

 

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Family recovers in hospital from illness that claimed infant at Morley home

Published Thursday, April 5, 2018 7:06AM MDT
Last Updated Thursday, April 5, 2018 8:22AM MDT

The death of a child on the Stoney Nakoda First Nation on Wednesday is under investigation and health officials are working to determine the nature of the illness that killed the infant and sent 14 others to hospital with flu-like symptoms.
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The patients ranged in age from four months to a male in his late teens and EMS officials say they exhibited ?influenza-like symptoms.?

"Most of the patients were stable enough, fortunately, to be able to go in more than one patient per ambulance. In the instance of the one child who was transported in serious condition, he was transported alone in the ambulance with a medical crew,? said Stuart Brideaux, EMS Public Education Officer.

Brideaux says the illnesses did not appear to be related to a noxious substance and that the cause appears to be ?medically based?.
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Peters says the patients are related to each other and they are now in stable condition in hospital in Calgary.

?All of the people are family relatives of some fashion, I don?t know the exact relationship, but I?m told that it?s an extended family.?
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https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/family-r...-that-claimed-infant-at-morley-home-1.3872313

 

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Officials tight-lipped day after child died, 14 found ill on Stoney First Nation
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CBC News ? Posted: Apr 05, 2018 10:18 AM MT | Last Updated: an hour ago

Officials remained tight-lipped Thursday one day after a child was found dead and 14 others in the same household were discovered ill with "influenza-type symptoms" on the Stoney First Nation west of Calgary.

Ten of the 15 discovered in the home Wednesday are children. One of the children was in serious condition when taken to hospital.
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Alberta Health Services said Wednesday that all the individuals presented with the "influenza-type symptoms," but would not say whether there were any public health concerns when asked on Thursday.

"Nothing more planned. As EMS noted yesterday, this was influenza-like illness," AHS said to CBC News when asked for more information and whether there were public health concerns.

RCMP Cpl. Curtis Peters said Thursday there was no new information...
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http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/stoney-nakoda-first-nation-death-child-sickness-1.4606315

 

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Officials call baby?s death and Alberta family?s illness ?weird?

Investigators look for answers in baby?s death on Alberta First Nation

THE CANADIAN PRESSApr. 5, 2018 1:12 p.m.NEWS
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RCMP Cpl. Curtis Peters said investigators would remain at the home Thursday and he expected Alberta Health Services could be involved as well.

?It will be a matter of trying to figure out what has gone on here,? Peters said Thursday. ?It?s going to be slow.?

He said the people in hospital are not quarantined and it doesn?t appear residents in nearby homes are at risk. He said an autopsy on the baby would likely take place Thursday or Friday.

Peters says it?s not unusual for people to fall ill, but having 15 in the same house is ?weird.?
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There was no immediate response for comment from either the Alberta government or the office of federal Indigenous Services Minister Jane Philpott.
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https://www.abbynews.com/news/officials-call-babys-death-and-alberta-familys-illness-weird/

 

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Mystery clouds death of baby girl on Stoney First Nation
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CBC News ? Posted: Apr 05, 2018 10:18 AM MT | Last Updated: 17 minutes ago
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RCMP said two of the adults have been released from hospital, while 10 other patients remain in stable condition.

A two-year-old girl remains in serious, but stable, condition.
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Rob Lahache, the CEO of the Wesley First Nation, one of three bands that make up the Stoney, said the community is in shock and there's very little information on what happened.
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Little is known of the family that lives in the home at this time, but a relative told CBC News that all those who fell sick were siblings.
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http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/stoney-nakoda-first-nation-death-child-sickness-1.4606315

 

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Probe continues into death of infant girl; 10 siblings still in hospital with flu-like symptoms

Yolande ColeYOLANDE COLE
Published on: April 5, 2018 | Last Updated: April 5, 2018 6:10 PM MDT
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The Cochrane RCMP detachment and the RCMP major crimes unit continue to investigate the death of an infant at the house. Mounties said Thursday the child who died was a four-month-old girl. An autopsy has been scheduled for Friday in Calgary.

Two adult siblings of the four-month-old have been released from hospital, while 10 siblings remain in hospital in stable condition, including a two-year-old girl who is in serious but stable condition, said Cpl. Curtis Peters.
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Rob Lahache, the CEO of the Wesley First Nation ? one of three bands that form the Stoney Nakoda Nation ? said officials are still trying to determine what sent the family members to hospital with respiratory symptoms.

?There?s going to be ongoing medical tests,? he said. ?They don?t know what it is yet.?

Lahache noted there has been a severe cold with respiratory symptoms that has been affecting some community members for up to four weeks, and others have been sick with the flu.

?As we know, serious viral infections, lung infections and influenza, affect the young (and) affect the elderly,? he said.
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http://edmontonjournal.com/news/loc...tion/wcm/1ff766ba-f07c-4e0f-b292-fecc8f4bb05a

 

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Update: Patients from Stoney Nakoda First Nation

April 6, 2018

CALGARY ? While Alberta Health Services (AHS) is not able to comment on any patient?s medical history or condition for privacy reasons under provisions of Alberta?s Health Information Act, AHS is confident there is no ongoing health risk to the individuals transported from the Stoney Nakoda First Nation on Wednesday, April 4, to the Alberta Children?s Hospital. Similarly, there is no health risk to the public.

A variety of common respiratory viruses were determined to be involved with those admitted to hospital. AHS is not able to comment on the RCMP investigation into the death of a child linked to this situation.

No further comment on this situation will be available from AHS.

https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/news/releases/2018/Page14364.aspx

 

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9 children released from hospital after mystery illness on Alberta First Nation

Kids placed with relatives as investigation continues

Sarah Rieger ? CBC News ? Posted: Apr 06, 2018 4:21 PM MT | Last Updated: April 6
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Nine children have been released from hospital, while one remains in intensive care, two days after they were found on a Calgary-area First Nation with a mysterious illness.
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"They have been back in the community, placed in a home with a kinship group," said Trez McCaskill, director of Stoney Nakoda Child and Family Services.

"We always hope to reunite the parents with the family. We'll be working with the family to address any concerns they might have."
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http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calga...ath-illness-alberta-health-services-1.4609257


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Influenza, overcrowding blamed for killing an infant, sending 14 relatives to hospital

National News | April 6, 2018 by Melissa Ridgen Attributed to:
Melissa Ridgen and Tamara Pimental
APTN News

Health Canada says influenza appears to be what killed a four-month-old Morley, Alta. girl and hospitalized her parents and 12 siblings.

?We?re still awaiting the official results from the autopsy but we got a letter today from Health Canada saying it does look like it is the flu,? said Rob Lahache, CEO of the Wesley band, one of three reserves that make up the Stoney Nakoda Nation in Morley, 60 kilometers west of Calgary.
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Lahache said the community has been dealing with a flu outbreak in recent weeks.
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?Everyone is being described as being ill at the same time but maybe some people have their onset of their illness before others, and sort of have passage of flu from one person to another rather than everybody getting sick at once which would not be typical with flu, ? infectious disease expert Neil Rau told APTN News.

But if the bug hit an overcrowded house, it could hit everyone at once, as Health Canada believes is the case.

Lahache said he?s unsure how many bedrooms and bathrooms are in the family?s modest bungalow, but the home is ?small? for 15 people.

The Wesley band has approximately 1,600 on-reserve members and overcrowded housing is a problem. ?We have 25 people living in some houses...
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http://aptnnews.ca/2018/04/06/influ...g-an-infant-sending-14-relatives-to-hospital/