Gert van der Hoek
In Memoriam - Editor, Senior Moderator
Quebec reports 12th swine flu death
Last Updated: Friday, June 26, 2009 |
Public health officials in Quebec reported another death related to the swine flu on Friday, bringing the total of deaths related to the H1N1 virus in the province to 12.
The victim, a woman in her 60s from the Quebec City area, already suffered from a chronic illness when she succumbed to the virus.
Public health also reported 39 new cases of the flu; in all, the virus has affected 1,873 people in Quebec.
Canada's chief public health officer has said the government will likely start a program this fall to vaccinate Canadians against swine flu.
Dr. Richard Lessard, director of Montreal’s public health department, said Thursday 1,500 health care workers could be called out of retirement to help.
"Different vaccines are being developed actually and we expect at the soonest a vaccine to be ready by Nov. 15," Lessard said.
Once a vaccine is ready, health officials said they’d have to get organized to distribute it. Lessard said he's confident Montreal’s public health department is up to the task but said it will require a lot of additional personnel.
He said people who are willing to help would be called back in September, once plans are formalized.
Lessard hoped people would be more willing to get the regular flu vaccine this fall, which should be available in mid-October.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2009/06/26/montreal-swine-flu-12th-death.html
Last Updated: Friday, June 26, 2009 |
Public health officials in Quebec reported another death related to the swine flu on Friday, bringing the total of deaths related to the H1N1 virus in the province to 12.
The victim, a woman in her 60s from the Quebec City area, already suffered from a chronic illness when she succumbed to the virus.
Public health also reported 39 new cases of the flu; in all, the virus has affected 1,873 people in Quebec.
Canada's chief public health officer has said the government will likely start a program this fall to vaccinate Canadians against swine flu.
Dr. Richard Lessard, director of Montreal’s public health department, said Thursday 1,500 health care workers could be called out of retirement to help.
"Different vaccines are being developed actually and we expect at the soonest a vaccine to be ready by Nov. 15," Lessard said.
Once a vaccine is ready, health officials said they’d have to get organized to distribute it. Lessard said he's confident Montreal’s public health department is up to the task but said it will require a lot of additional personnel.
He said people who are willing to help would be called back in September, once plans are formalized.
Lessard hoped people would be more willing to get the regular flu vaccine this fall, which should be available in mid-October.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2009/06/26/montreal-swine-flu-12th-death.html