Ronan Kelly
Retired 2020
H1N1 death confirmed: Schabas
Posted By Intelligencer Staff
Posted 23 mins ago
Health officials have confirmed a death in Hastings-Prince Edward was the result of pandemic H1N1 influenza.
"Sadly, we have received lab confirmation that the death of an adult on Nov. 1 was the result of pandemic H1N1 influenza," said Dr. Richard Schabas, the counties' medical officer of health, said Monday in a press release. He offered the Hastings and Prince Edward Counties Health Unit's "sincerest condolences to the family."
The person had serious underlying medical problems and lived in the health unit's area, the release said. It is the only confirmed local death connected to the latest outbreak of the virus and no other deaths are currently suspected.
"For reasons of medical confidentiality we will not be releasing any more information," said Schabas.
He added, however, that the outbreak is now ending.
"We look at indicators including visits to emergency rooms and school absenteeism rates. Both of these are returning to normal levels," said Schabas. "We will still see some flu and serious illness because there is always a lag, but the overall news is good."
The Health Unit will hold more priority group H1N1 vaccination clinics this week across the area. "Following those we expect to make the vaccine more generally available in the weeks to come," said Schabas.
"With the outbreak on the wane, the risk to healthy people from H1N1 is low." We also expect to be able to return to our normal services at the Health Unit soon. These had been interrupted as our staff was reassigned to flu vaccination clinics."
For more information about H1N1, including details of priority group vaccination clinics, visit www.hpechu.on.ca or call the H1N1 flu line at 613-966-5513 ext. 655, or, in North Hastings call toll-free 1-800-267-2803.
http://www.intelligencer.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2167696
Posted By Intelligencer Staff
Posted 23 mins ago
Health officials have confirmed a death in Hastings-Prince Edward was the result of pandemic H1N1 influenza.
"Sadly, we have received lab confirmation that the death of an adult on Nov. 1 was the result of pandemic H1N1 influenza," said Dr. Richard Schabas, the counties' medical officer of health, said Monday in a press release. He offered the Hastings and Prince Edward Counties Health Unit's "sincerest condolences to the family."
The person had serious underlying medical problems and lived in the health unit's area, the release said. It is the only confirmed local death connected to the latest outbreak of the virus and no other deaths are currently suspected.
"For reasons of medical confidentiality we will not be releasing any more information," said Schabas.
He added, however, that the outbreak is now ending.
"We look at indicators including visits to emergency rooms and school absenteeism rates. Both of these are returning to normal levels," said Schabas. "We will still see some flu and serious illness because there is always a lag, but the overall news is good."
The Health Unit will hold more priority group H1N1 vaccination clinics this week across the area. "Following those we expect to make the vaccine more generally available in the weeks to come," said Schabas.
"With the outbreak on the wane, the risk to healthy people from H1N1 is low." We also expect to be able to return to our normal services at the Health Unit soon. These had been interrupted as our staff was reassigned to flu vaccination clinics."
For more information about H1N1, including details of priority group vaccination clinics, visit www.hpechu.on.ca or call the H1N1 flu line at 613-966-5513 ext. 655, or, in North Hastings call toll-free 1-800-267-2803.
http://www.intelligencer.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2167696