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Source: http://www.calgaryherald.com/health/Four+H1N1+deaths+raise+Alberta+toll/2263758/story.html
Four new H1N1 deaths raise Alberta toll to 51
Latest victims all from Edmonton
By Michelle Lang, Calgary Herald with files from Agence France-Presse
November 25, 2009 6:07
Four more Albertans with H1N1 influenza have died, bringing the total number of deaths related to swine flu to 51 in this province, health officials said Tuesday.
Alberta Health Services said the victims, who were all from the Edmonton area, included an adult woman, an adult male and two elderly females.
"All four had underlying medical conditions," said spokesman Don Stewart.
The most recent deaths come as the Alberta Liberals continue to criticize the government for its handling of the H1N1 vaccination program and the high rates of hospitalization and death in this province from the new flu strain.
According to figures released this week, Alberta's death rate from H1N1 flu is 11.39 per million people--nearly double the national average of 6.49 per million.
Liberal Leader David Swann questioned Health Minister Ron Liepert in the legislature Tuesday about why the Alberta rate is higher than the national average. He has said the decision not to initially restrict clinics to high-risk groups may be related to the mortality rate.
"Is the minister suggesting (the statistics) had nothing to do with the way the vaccine program was rolled out, open to all Albertans instead of targeted?" Swann asked during question period.
But Liepert said the higher death rate relates to a number of factors, including a strong reporting process and the fact that H1N1 hit Western Canada first in the second wave.
"Obviously it's hit the western provinces two weeks earlier than the rest of the country," said Liepert.
Experts have said they don't read too much into the Alberta mortality rate at this stage.
Glen Armstrong, head of the University of Calgary's department of microbiology and infectious diseases, said the figures may not be statistically significant and noted that as the outbreak continues, the trend could reverse and another province could overtake Alberta's mortality rate.
"The opposition is trying to connect this somehow with the way the vaccination program has been rolled out," said Armstrong. "But I'm not sure there are sufficient numbers to show Alberta has on a per-capita basis immunized less high-risk individuals than other provinces."
Federal officials, meanwhile, said six severe allergic reactions observed in Canada are linked to a single batch of vaccine -- 172,000 doses of Aprepanrix vaccines made by GlaxoSmithKline.
The shots were sent to several provinces earlier this month, including Alberta, but the distribution has since been halted.
Alberta Health Services said Tuesday there have been no reports of serious adverse reactions related to the swine flu vaccine in this province.
Four new H1N1 deaths raise Alberta toll to 51
Latest victims all from Edmonton
By Michelle Lang, Calgary Herald with files from Agence France-Presse
November 25, 2009 6:07
Four more Albertans with H1N1 influenza have died, bringing the total number of deaths related to swine flu to 51 in this province, health officials said Tuesday.
Alberta Health Services said the victims, who were all from the Edmonton area, included an adult woman, an adult male and two elderly females.
"All four had underlying medical conditions," said spokesman Don Stewart.
The most recent deaths come as the Alberta Liberals continue to criticize the government for its handling of the H1N1 vaccination program and the high rates of hospitalization and death in this province from the new flu strain.
According to figures released this week, Alberta's death rate from H1N1 flu is 11.39 per million people--nearly double the national average of 6.49 per million.
Liberal Leader David Swann questioned Health Minister Ron Liepert in the legislature Tuesday about why the Alberta rate is higher than the national average. He has said the decision not to initially restrict clinics to high-risk groups may be related to the mortality rate.
"Is the minister suggesting (the statistics) had nothing to do with the way the vaccine program was rolled out, open to all Albertans instead of targeted?" Swann asked during question period.
But Liepert said the higher death rate relates to a number of factors, including a strong reporting process and the fact that H1N1 hit Western Canada first in the second wave.
"Obviously it's hit the western provinces two weeks earlier than the rest of the country," said Liepert.
Experts have said they don't read too much into the Alberta mortality rate at this stage.
Glen Armstrong, head of the University of Calgary's department of microbiology and infectious diseases, said the figures may not be statistically significant and noted that as the outbreak continues, the trend could reverse and another province could overtake Alberta's mortality rate.
"The opposition is trying to connect this somehow with the way the vaccination program has been rolled out," said Armstrong. "But I'm not sure there are sufficient numbers to show Alberta has on a per-capita basis immunized less high-risk individuals than other provinces."
Federal officials, meanwhile, said six severe allergic reactions observed in Canada are linked to a single batch of vaccine -- 172,000 doses of Aprepanrix vaccines made by GlaxoSmithKline.
The shots were sent to several provinces earlier this month, including Alberta, but the distribution has since been halted.
Alberta Health Services said Tuesday there have been no reports of serious adverse reactions related to the swine flu vaccine in this province.