Re: Second person dies in province from H1N1-related complications
The province has recorded it's second H1N1-related death. Central Health says a 40-year old man from the central region passed away this morning from complications of an H1N1 infection. The patient had multiple underlying medical conditions and was in the ICU on a ventilator for several days prior to his death. CEO Karen McGrath says the health authority extends its condolences to his friends and family. It's the second death related to complications from the H1N1 virus. A 36-year old woman died Saturday who also had underlying health issues. McGrath says it's upsetting for health care workers to be in this situation again so soon.
Health officials will be gving their daily update on H1N1 at an earlier time today than usual, and with a broadened perspective. Health Minister Jerome Kennedy, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Faith Stratton, and Education Minister Darin King go before the microphones at 1:30 today. They're expected to provide updated information on the arrival of new vaccine and how and where it will be distributed, as well as information on the school system and plans to vaccinate in the schools. Yesterday, government announced an expanded eligibility criteria for the shots. VOCM News will be at Confederation Building to bring you the news first.
There's some new criteria for those receiving H1N1 vaccinations. Priority groups will be expanded Thursday to include hospital in-patients less than 65 years of age with one or more chronic health conditions, school aged children from Kindergarten to Grade Three, individuals between the ages of 25 and 40 with chronic respiratory disease with proof of active treatment of the disease, and individuals undergoing cancer treatment. Health Minister Jerome Kennedy says the vaccine will go into the schools as early as Thursday. Non-adjuvanted vaccine has arrived for pregnant women in the first half of their pregnancies. Kennedy says by the end of the week, we should know more details about our next shipment of vaccine, due next week. He says they continue to roll out the immunization process as logically as possible, but he's still getting a number of complaints. He says people have to remain patient. Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Faith Stratton says the number of admissions to hospitals is still on the rise. 34 new admissions have been reported in 24 hours, bringing the total to 84 people in hospital. 9 are in intensive care with 5 on ventilators.
The visits to Eastern Health's Flu Assessment Clinic set up at Major's Path have grown so quickly in the past week, they are relocating the clinic to Ropewalk Lane. The first day the clinic saw 66 patients and just this past Sunday the number had swelled to almost 170. The clinic will now be located in the former Breast Screening Clinic at 112 Ropewalk Lane. The clinic will start operating from that location tomorrow from 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
The vice president of Medical Services with Western Health believes the numbers of staff in the region with flu like symptoms will start to level off in a couple of weeks. Dr. Ken Jenkins says as of yesterday, there were 27 patients with H1N1 at Western Memorial Regional Hospital in Corner Brook. He says they've also been experiencing a high number of staff with illness. Dr. Jenkins says they've cancelled elective surgeries to free up beds in acute care, expanded a flu assessment centre and established a flu ward at the hospital. He says there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Dr.Jenkins says they'll continue to monitor the level of staff illness to determine when elective surgeries can resume.
There is a free seminar this morning in St. John's for businesses wondering how to deal with the H1N1 virus. Officials with the International Centre for Infectious Diseases and the Public Health Agency of Canada will be on hand to provide information and answer questions about how small and medium-sized businesses can deal with the situation. The Chair of the St. John's Board of Trade, Bruce Templeton, says all businesses are invited to attend. He says businesses have been asking a lot of questions about how to operate with reduced staff, including how to operate their businesses from remote locations, and security of information.
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