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More than 150 staff and teachers absent after Regina student gets swine flu

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More than 150 staff and teachers absent after Regina student gets swine flu

Health officials say about 156 students and staff from a Regina elementary school have been absent after a student was diagnosed with the swine flu.

Dr. Maurice Hennick, deputy medical health officer, says many of them are sick and once they are all tested it is possible there could be as many as 100 positive cases of H1N1. Hennick says all the cases involving students and staff at Massey Elementary are mild.

The Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region is telling parents to keep children with mild flu symptoms home for at least seven days.

Officials say the school has also stepped up efforts to clean and disinfect high-use areas to thwart the spread of the flu.

http://www.metronews.ca/ottawa/cana...rs-absent-after-regina-student-gets-swine-flu<!--Word Count:114-->
 
Re: More than 150 staff and teachers absent after Regina student gets swine flu

It may be worth noting that this is school is adjacent to the Sherwood Indian Reserve NO 159.
 
Re: More than 150 staff and teachers absent after Regina student gets swine flu

Feds slow to respond to First Nation pandemic planning: Manitoba







By Mia Rabson, Winnipeg Free PressJune 4, 2009



  • Story
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Health Minister Theresa Oswald made the revelation Thursday as she expressed frustration at the federal government's response to the H1N1 flu outbreak when it comes to First Nations like St. Theresa Point, saying the province has been prevented from doing more because it doesn't have jurisdiction.

On Thursday, Ottawa asked for additional help with supplies and the province sent masks and antiviral medication to St. Theresa Point, about 500 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg.

Oswald said the province had offered to provide antiviral medications for reserves repeatedly in the last month.

"It's the federal government's job to ask us if they need some (antivirals), and that's, of course, part of what we've been asking them 13 times," she said.

She said the province's stockpile includes enough of the medication for First Nations.

Meanwhile, St. Theresa Point Chief David McDougall pleaded for understanding and tolerance for his swine-flu afflicted community on Thursday, saying that residents have been met with fear and paranoia.

So far just two confirmed cases of swine flu from remote, fly-in community located 500 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg.

However, there are 21 people from the reserve in hospital in Winnipeg and hundreds more in the community itself have registered with the nursing station as suffering from respiratory symptoms.

"Those are all pending confirmation if they are in fact infected by this (swine flu) virus," the chief said at a news conference.

He said members of his community were recently asked to leave at least one hotel over fears they could be sick.

"Just to be in the same room with me is not a death sentence for anybody," McDougall said, adding later: "As far as I'm concerned, there's no panic right now."

McDougall stressed there have been more confirmed cases in Winnipeg than in St. Theresa Point, a community of 3,200 people

McDougall said two of his own nieces are in critical condition at St. Boniface hospital in Winnipeg.

"There have been some frightening moments throughout the course of their treatment," he said.

He has said his community lacks the infrastructure to deal with a full-scale outbreak, and that a potential pandemic could spread quickly, since residents live in overcrowded homes.

Manitoba's health minister said Wednesday that province was asked to help find housing for family members coming to Winnipeg with sick loved ones because they were having difficulty finding hotel rooms.

Meanwhile, at least 100 students at a Regina elementary school are likely infected with the swine flu virus, said a top physician with the local health region.

One student from Massey School tested positive for the virus Thursday, but 150 students are out sick and most of those are expected to have the illness, according to Dr. Maurice Hennink, deputy medical health officer for the Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region.

"It's circulating in our community," he said. "We expect some more tests to come back positive."

Hennink said many of those infected might not take the test, meaning the 153 confirmed cases in the province do not provide a full picture.

The Manitoba government, federal health officials and First Nations leaders have met weekly since the swine flu outbreak began a month ago, to work on pandemic planning on First Nations.

In 2005, the Public Health Agency of Canada's report on pandemic planning outlined a number of outstanding issues related to preparing for an outbreak on reserves, including a lack of formal agreements dividing responsibilities between the federal and provincial governments for responding to health emergencies and the lack of pandemic plans on First Nations. The report also said there needed to be a clear protocol for ensuring the provinces' antiviral stockpiles were accounting for First Nations, and how First Nations could access the drugs when they were needed.

A spokeswoman for Health Canada said the department and Manitoba are close to an agreement on how to deal with pandemics on reserves. However, Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq did not respond to the concern Oswald raised.

http://www.canada.com/Health/Feds+s...pandemic+planning+Manitoba/1663408/story.html
 
Re: More than 150 staff and teachers absent after Regina student gets swine flu

<TABLE class=contentpaneopen><TBODY><TR><TD class=contentheading width="100%">H1N1 Confirmed at Regina School </TD><TD class=buttonheading width="100%" align=right> </TD><TD class=buttonheading width="100%" align=right> </TD><TD class=buttonheading width="100%" align=right> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=contentpaneopen><TBODY><TR><TD class=createdate vAlign=top colSpan=2>Thursday, 04 June 2009 </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=2>
health_-_outbreak_3.gif
A case of the H1N1 virus has been confirmed in a Regina elementary school, and another 150 students and staff are staying home sick.
Health officials say Up to 100 of those could have the virus. They started taking notice when nearly a third of the 450 students were missing school.
As a precaution, the health region is saying any students showing flu symptoms should stay home for at least a week. The school doesn't have plans to close right now, but will wait on word from the health region.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
http://www.saskatoonhomepage.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=18799&Itemid=281
 
Re: More than 150 staff and teachers absent after Regina student gets swine flu

Possible H1N1 flu outbreak at Regina's Massey School







By Joe Couture, Leader-PostJune 4, 2009



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A look at Regina's Massey School on Thursday.

Photograph by: Roy Antal, Leader-Post




REGINA ? At least 100 students at a Regina elementary school are likely infected with the H1N1 swine flu virus, says a top physician with the local health region.
One student from Massey School tested positive for the virus on Thursday, but 150 students are out sick and most of those are expected to have the illness, according to Dr. Maurice Hennink, deputy medical health officer for the Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region.
"It's circulating in our community," he said. "We've certainly had reports from the schools that some . . . are experiencing significant absences. We expect some more tests to come back positive."
Hennink said that while more test results will come in, at this point, many of those infected might not take the test, meaning the 153 confirmed cases in the province do not provide a full picture.
"The actual laboratory reports do not accurately reflect what is going on in the community," he explained. "The actual occurrences are probably a lot more."
The health region first became aware of the situation at Massey School on Monday, when about 80 students called in sick. On Tuesday, a letter explaining how to deal with H1N1 was reissued to parents. By Wednesday, the number of absent students had climbed to 140; on Thursday, about 150 children stayed home.
Massey School has slightly more than 400 students enrolled, according to Regina Public Schools spokesman Terry Lazarou. Out of about 20 teachers, eight were absent on Wednesday, he added.
Kristi Liske, executive director of the Massey Daycare, said that about 60 per cent of the 39 children who attend the daycare at the Massey site are out sick.
She said two children from a branch of the daycare that is located at another site are also sick, but noted that those two children go to kindergarten at Massey.
Although some parents might be keeping their children home as a preventative measure, Hennink indicated that many families are experiencing illness.
Hennink said many parents are reporting that their children have symptoms consistent with H1N1, including respiratory issues, fever, cough and body ache, leading to the assessment that many of those ill are infected with the disease.
Vomiting and diarrhea can also be symptoms of H1N1 in younger children.
Numerous other family members of affected students are also symptomatic.
"They're certainly feeling ill . . . but it's relatively mild disease," said Hennink.
"We're not seeing any significant hospitalizations or deaths or anything like that ? young folks are particularly affected by this, but they do very well."
A school outbreak didn't come as a surprise as the virus affects young people especially and can be particularly contagious in a school setting, he said.
It's difficult to say why Massey was particularly affected, Hennink stated.
"Other schools (have) all had absences and experienced some of this," he said. "The absenteeism hasn't been above 10 per cent and so significant as it has been in this particular school."
The virus can be particularly contagious in a school setting, he explained.
Hennink said that as long as a school is "functioning and able to function," guidelines dictate it shouldn't be closed.
Public health authorities have the final say, but make a decision in consultation with school division authorities.
"After very careful consultation in this regard, it was decided that at this point in time, the school is functional," he said. "There is general spread of the H1N1 virus in our community, and it's a relatively mild disease, so at this point in time, the school is able to function."
Anyone showing symptoms is asked to stay home for seven days until the period believed to be most contagious has passed. But Hennink advised that parents do not need to keep their children home just as a precautionary measure.
"If your child is well, they can go to school," he said. "Pay particular attention to hand hygiene and cough etiquette. Other than that, they can go."
If a symptomatic child has an underlying medical condition or the parent is concerned about the symptoms, Hennink suggested seeking medical attention, but he noted many children will recover well at home.
For Massey, Hennink said that the outbreak is "probably near the peak."
The health authority is working closely with the school division, and extra cleaning, monitoring and communications measures are in place, he said.
Initiatives in those regards have been ongoing at all schools, stated Lazarou.
Liske said that the daycare is taking extra care with things like handwashing, and noted she is confident in the division's precautions. She also pointed out that the virus could be caught anywhere, such as at a local supermarket.
"I feel that the school is taking all the precautions that they can take to have this problem not spread," Liske said. "It's a horrible thing that is happening, and I hope it's centralized to the one school and not spreading throughout."
jcouture@leaderpost.canwest.com

http://www.leaderpost.com/Health/Possible+H1N1+outbreak+Regina+Massey+School/1663263/story.html
 
Re: More than 150 staff and teachers absent after Regina student gets swine flu

niman said:
Possible H1N1 flu outbreak at Regina's Massey School







The health region first became aware of the situation at Massey School on Monday, when about 80 students called in sick. On Tuesday, a letter explaining how to deal with H1N1 was reissued to parents. By Wednesday, the number of absent students had climbed to 140; on Thursday, about 150 children stayed home.
Massey School has slightly more than 400 students enrolled, according to Regina Public Schools spokesman Terry Lazarou. Out of about 20 teachers, eight were absent on Wednesday, he added.
Kristi Liske, executive director of the Massey Daycare, said that about 60 per cent of the 39 children who attend the daycare at the Massey site are out sick.
jcouture@leaderpost.canwest.com

http://www.leaderpost.com/Health/Possible+H1N1+outbreak+Regina+Massey+School/1663263/story.html
Click to expand...
If the above school is "functional", then something related isn't.
 
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