Severe Flu Cases Surge in Manitoba - Aboriginal Community Hit Hard

[cartski]

Re: Severe Flu Cases Surge in Manitoba - 26 on Ventilators Since June 7 - Aboriginal Community Hit Hard

Re: Severe Flu Cases Surge in Manitoba - 26 on Ventilators Since June 7 - Aboriginal Community Hit Hard

I'm in Kenora. The reserve is Manitoba is no where near here. Not even close. I have lived in Kenora most of my life. A few years I lived in Winnipeg. Up until a few days ago I didn't even know that St. Theresa point even existed. So far in Kenora there are only 2 cases confirmed of h1n1. There is something going on in Grassy Narrows reserve just like that reserve in Manitoba, but not as many people sick. I'm hoping that there isn't something with the natives that they are more susepctible to h1n1. Kenora has a large Caucasian and native population. Caucasian population in Kenora is greater than native population. Kenora is surrounded by about 5 reserves. At this time of year we don't have alot of tourism. A few people from Winnipeg. Its a tourist area in the summer and our population doubles. The cabin owners in Kenora and the outlying area are from Manitoba and Americans. People from all over the states come to kenora in the summer.

yeah we have had Blastomycosis in this area. Certain parts of town its been found in the soil. Dont' think that has anything to do with h1n1 though.

There is no way that h1n1 was transmitted from Island lake to Kenora. Doesn't make sense. St. Theresa point is a remote reserve. They would be receiving supplies and going to Winnipeg or somewhere in Manitoba. This isn't 200 hundred years ago with the natives portaging with their canoes through the bush. Grassy Narrows reserve those people come to Kenora for supplies. Lots of travel between Kenora and Grassy. It is more likely that someone at both of these reserves was traveling and caught h1n1 and brought it back to the reserve.

Thanks. I stand corrected.

I really don't know the area very well, nor the locations of the reserves. We really need a link to a map of reserves accross Canada.

I don't think First Nations people are any more susepctible to getting sick than anyone else. Transmission is largely the same now matter who we are (well, debatably with H5). But the underlying medical conditions or the genetic differences often make the impact from a virus more severe.

My reference to canoe routes was not to imply that First Nations still rely on them for supplies and lifestyle. Please accept my apologies if I wasn't clear. I was more concerned with the historical development of the nations, and how the Inuit may be completely different, from a genetic perspective, than the First Nations to the south. We really need expert advice on that point.

J.

 

[Diane Morin]

Re: Severe Flu Cases Surge in Manitoba - 26 on Ventilators Since June 7 - Aboriginal Community Hit Hard

Re: Severe Flu Cases Surge in Manitoba - 26 on Ventilators Since June 7 - Aboriginal Community Hit Hard

Thanks Lamrobertson!


?Pandemic Plan? ? Not here.?

With new incidents of swine flu on Manitoba reserves, leaders are calling on the Health Minister to put plans into action

Tags: H1N1, Swine Flu, WHO

The first thing Chief Dale Harper of Garden Hill, Man., did when he got off the plane from Winnipeg on Wednesday was check to see if the supplies had been delivered. ?Nothing,? he says. ?Nothing came in. And nothing is scheduled to come.?

His community?which now reports two confirmed cases of H1N1, or, swine flu?has been asking for basic medical supplies all week. But so far, the province has not delivered. And Harper says the situation is getting worse, with 30 to 50 people now showing flu-like symptoms. ?So far the only response is, yes we have a pandemic plan in place,? Harper explains. ?But where is? That?s our question. Where is it? Because it?s not here.?

Thursday, the World Health Organization (WHO) held an emergency meeting on swine flu, declaring the first flu pandemic in 41 years. That afternoon, Canada confirmed 533 new cases of its own. Among those was a second case of swine flu in Harper?s small northeast community of Garden Hill, as well as a handful of new incidents in nearby St. Theresa Point. Residents on the infected reserves are not too surprised. Garden Hill and St. Theresa Point?both part of Manitoba?s Island Lake region?are some of the province?s most isolated First Nations reserves. And what is increasingly clear, as the national swine flu count rises, is that these very kinds of communities are being disproportionately affected by the pandemic.

The plight of Canadian First Nations has captured attention at the highest levels. Early this week, WHO acting assistant director-general, Keiji Fukado, said the organization was particularly alarmed by the number of flu cases appearing in Manitoba?s aboriginal communities. And Nunavut, with 96 confirmed cases of its own, is also cause for concern.

Some have suggested that aboriginals may be genetically predisposed to getting the flu. But Harper is quick to dismiss those claims. ?You don?t even go there,? he warns. ?That shouldn?t even be considered.? Joel Kettner, Manitoba?s Chief Medical Officer of Health, agreed Thursday that there was no evidence of a genetic link. What is more likely is that poverty, poor health, and cramped living conditions on northern reserves are to blame. And mismanagement of the problem by provincial and federal authorities has added to the mess.

Garden Hill, for example, has no doctor. Instead, it has to rely on nurses, in between visits from part-time physicians who fly between reserves. When the reserves? first flu victim?an 18-month child?was diagnosed, it took one week before authorities had him medevaced to a hospital. And that only happened after the baby?s grandfather pleaded with local nurses. After that, locals asked for a permanent doctor. The Chief has been assured that one will come, but not until next week.

In the meantime, the dozens of people who now show symptoms are still at home?in houses that often shelter 3 or 4 families. ?They?re still in the community. There?s no doctor to say this is an emergency situation and [that the patients] have to be shipped to Winnipeg.? Harper says he has done what he can, but he?s losing hope. He asked the province for gloves, masks and hand sanitizers to help him keep his community clean. But so far, he says, he has nothing.

Some health officials report a different story. Terry Goertzen, Manitoba Health?s assistant deputy minister, claims that 9,000 surgical masks and 2,600 N95 masks have been sent to First Nations and Inuit Health. But he acknowledges that his office does not regulate distribution to individual communities. Instead, he says, it?s up to regional authorities to distribute supplies as they see fit. And Jim Wolfe, regional director for Health Canada?s aboriginal branch in Manitoba, says a decision has been made to send hand sanitizer to all First Nations. That?s good news. ?Frequent handwashing,? as Health Canada recommends as a measure to prevent the flu spread, is awfully hard to do in a town where half the residents lack access to running water. And it?s hard to take precautions, Harper points out, when residents are not even clear about what H1N1 is.

In Nunavut, it seems like more of the same. Chief medical officer Dr. Isaac Sobol denied that there is a problem unique to aboriginals?even as 71 newly confirmed cases in his district were reported Thursday. And he dismissed a remark from WHO?s Fukuda, citing a ?disproportionate number of serious cases occurring? in Inuit communities in Canada. ?I have no idea why [the organization] would?ve made that statement because it?s not based on any evidence I?m aware of,? Sobol told reporters.

In preparation for a worsening situation in Manitoba?the province?s medical officer believes hundreds of thousands will soon be infected?Garden Hill is calling for an emergency hospital base to be set up to serve the region. That might save the province some money, as well as providing reassurance those living on reserves. Right now, the government is paying to have infected patients flown to Winnipeg hospitals for treatment. Harper prices the cost of the medevacs from Island Lake Region at over $1 million, although Manitoba Health could not confirm that estimate.

Harper says he has invited the Health Minister to come to Garden Hill and see the problem firsthand. But so far, she has not responded to the invitation. He called her office yesterday, but was not able to speak with her directly. Until his community gets its due attention, the Health Minister can expect daily phone calls from him. He?s giving her a week. ?We?re going to start pressuring. There?s ways.?

Harper has not ruled out flying the community?s sick children to Ottawa. Anything, he says, to get the attention of officials

http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/06/12/“pandemic-plan-…-not-here-”/

 

[cartski]

Re: Novel H1N1 flu outbreak hits isolated First Nations reserve

Re: Novel H1N1 flu outbreak hits isolated First Nations reserve

Hello Lamrobertson,

Can you say to me if you were informed of this tournament of hockey? If so, did this tournament join together many people? It is possible that a significant number inhabitants were reserves of Manitoba and Nunavut found joined together at the time of this tournament?

I am not able to check this point. Thank you!

Muscade

Yes, a list of teams, with their home locations (but without the names of individual people) could answer many questions!

J.

 

[Diane Morin]

Re: Novel H1N1 flu outbreak hits isolated First Nations reserve

Re: Novel H1N1 flu outbreak hits isolated First Nations reserve

Yes, a list of teams, with their home locations (but without the names of individual people) could answer many questions!

J.

They are trained teams of the best players of each province and territory. Only one team per province or territory. I wondered whether that could have attracted much supporteurs of various reserves in Manitoba and in Nunavut because the event took place with Winnipeg at the beginning of May.

 

[cartski]

Re: Novel H1N1 flu outbreak hits isolated First Nations reserve

Re: Novel H1N1 flu outbreak hits isolated First Nations reserve

They are trained teams of the best players of each province and territory. Only one team per province or territory. I wondered whether that could have attracted much supporteurs of various reserves in Manitoba and in Nunavut because the event took place with Winnipeg at the beginning of May.

http://www.masrc.com/sport_details.php?sport_id=14&id=164

But you probably already found that link. Looks like the team members are listed on each provincial aboriginal associations' website. Backtracking may be possible.

Two teams, male and female, and maybe 4, for different age or ability levels.

Supporters = fans who are either parents or friends. I would not expect any from other provinces - Nunavut and NL for example are very, very far away. But MB teams would have a fan base.

J.

 

[lamrobertson]

Re: Severe Flu Cases Surge in Manitoba - 26 on Ventilators Since June 7 - Aboriginal Community Hit Hard

Re: Severe Flu Cases Surge in Manitoba - 26 on Ventilators Since June 7 - Aboriginal Community Hit Hard

I'm doubting the hockey players are from reserves. Not all natives live on reserves. Reserves don't usually have hockey arenas. Most likely they are native players off of the teams from the towns and cities.

I'll do some digging and see what I can come up with. I remember on those dates you mentioned that there was as out of town tornament that was specifically native. Some kids in my daughters class went to it. I remember my daughter said it was the last one of the year.

 

[Laidback Al]

Re: Severe Flu Cases Surge in Manitoba - 26 on Ventilators Since June 7 - Aboriginal Community Hit Hard

Re: Severe Flu Cases Surge in Manitoba - 26 on Ventilators Since June 7 - Aboriginal Community Hit Hard

I really don't know the area very well, nor the locations of the reserves. We really need a link to a map of reserves across Canada.

Manitoba alone has more than 250 First Nations Reserves (marked below). The map shows the the location of St. Theresa Point and Garden Hill. They are relatively close to each other.

 

[cartski]

Re: Severe Flu Cases Surge in Manitoba - 26 on Ventilators Since June 7 - Aboriginal Community Hit Hard

Re: Severe Flu Cases Surge in Manitoba - 26 on Ventilators Since June 7 - Aboriginal Community Hit Hard

Thanks for the map.

Where is this from?

Can it be extended south east to Kenora or even Thunder Bay?

It's Grassy Narrows First Nation that's been talked about regarding cases Kenora's hospital, although there are 5 reserves in the Kenora area.

J.

 

[Laidback Al]

Re: Severe Flu Cases Surge in Manitoba - 26 on Ventilators Since June 7 - Aboriginal Community Hit Hard

Re: Severe Flu Cases Surge in Manitoba - 26 on Ventilators Since June 7 - Aboriginal Community Hit Hard

The mapping data is from this Canadian website:

http://www.geobase.ca/geobase/en/index.html

First Nations Reserve near Grassy Narrows, Ontario, is English River 21 Reserve at:

50.18333, -94.0500

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Severe Flu Cases Surge in Manitoba - 26 on Ventilators Since June 7 - Aboriginal Community Hit Hard

Re: Severe Flu Cases Surge in Manitoba - 26 on Ventilators Since June 7 - Aboriginal Community Hit Hard

Source: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/strick...s+Medecins+Sans+Frontieres/1691029/story.html

Flu-stricken First Nations in Third World conditions: Medecins Sans Frontieres

By Bruce Owen, Carol Sanders and Aldo Santin, Winnipeg Free PressJune 12, 2009 8:09 PM

WINNIPEG ? The global volunteer agency Doctors Without Borders says Canada can and should help its own First Nations struggling with Third World conditions and a swine-flu crisis.

"I believe in Canada we have the capacity to respond to that," said Dr. Joanne Liu, the outgoing president of Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) Canada.

Her comments come as health authorities say a 42-person jump in the number of Manitobans infected with the H1N1 flu virus further confirms the influenza outbreak is province-wide, and it's likely swine flu is present in every community in Manitoba.

On Friday, officials reported there are 119 cases of swine flu confirmed in Manitoba. Two-thirds of those cases are aboriginal, with 17 coming from northern Manitoba, the hardest hit area of the province in the flu outbreak.

"This isn't unexpected," acting chief provincial public health officer Dr. Elise Weiss said. "It confirms, basically, what we knew before, that the virus is present throughout the province.

"We certainly expect to see more cases. We don't know how long this is going to continue, but we're certainly prepared for it."

But Liu says governments and agencies involved need to work together and make sure care is getting to the people in times of crisis, said Liu.

"Being a country of the G-8 and with all the resources we have here, it would be unfortunate if we are not able to co-ordinate ourselves and respond to the crisis," Liu said Friday.

"We need to get our act together and do what is right for the First Nations people," said Liu. "That needs political leadership. It's a question of will."

In the United States after Hurricane Katrina, Doctors Without Borders was asked to help, said Liu. Before sending in any volunteers, the organization did an assessment of the disaster zone, she said.

"There was enough manpower to address it, even though the co-ordination was maybe lacking," said Liu.

When a tsunami swept through Southeast Asia on Dec. 26, 2004, and killed more than 200,000 people, Ottawa responded with a relief effort totalling $425 million and included emergency teams consisting of doctors and soldiers who brought medicine and badly needed supplies.

But as the H1N1 virus sweeps through the Manitoba native communities of Garden Hill and St. Theresa Point, about 600 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg, local officials point out Ottawa and Manitoba are unable to provide them with basic medical care, such as a full-time doctor and adequate hand sanitizers.

"It's very frustrating," said Liu. Its volunteers enter conflict and disaster zones around the world. At times, they have to deal with duelling jurisdictions in order to take health care to the people caught in the middle, she said.

The charitable organization's role is to go where there is no health care and no resources, she said.

Canada and the U.S. have both.

"It is important that Manitobans and the Canadian public understand the obstacles and hurdles First Nations are facing in accessing the basic health-care services that many others take for granted," said Ron Evans, Grand Chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs.

In Manitoba, the lack of federal and provincial responses to the situation at Garden Hill and St. Theresa Point overshadowed the first anniversary of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's apology to Indian residential-school survivors, Evans said.

"The H1N1 virus that is seriously impacting our communities today demonstrates that our communities and people continue to suffer in poor living conditions," Evans said Thursday.

For nearly three years, aboriginal leaders have tried to work with federal officials to develop pandemic planning, but nothing happened until the H1N1 virus hit the northern community of St. Theresa Point about two weeks ago.

"We are on the verge of a full-scale pandemic, and we are once again calling upon all levels of government, the minister of health, and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, for immediate action," Evans said.

"We have no time for jurisdictional battles. We must all work together on this."

And there are signs some help is mobilizing for the remote communities.

A call-out made Thursday for extra medical coverage in St. Theresa Point and Garden Hill has been answered, an official said Friday. A physician is being added for each community through to next week.

On Friday, Manitoba Nurses Union president Sandi Mowat said the union has paved the way for Winnipeg Regional Health Authority nurses to volunteer to work at some of the understaffed northern nursing stations to give their colleagues a break.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Severe Flu Cases Surge in Manitoba - 26 on Ventilators Since June 7 - Aboriginal Community Hit Hard

Re: Severe Flu Cases Surge in Manitoba - 26 on Ventilators Since June 7 - Aboriginal Community Hit Hard

Source: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/Officials-touring-St-Theresa-Point-47936132.html


Health minister 'encouraged' by trip to St. Theresa Point

By: Staff Writer

12/06/2009 4:45 PM |

WINNIPEG ? Health Minister Theresa Oswald said she was encouraged by her visit today to St. Theresa Point First Nation, a remote northern community with at least nine confirmed cases of H1N1 influenza.

"My impression is that this is a community that has come together to work for the good health of their people. There are no jurisdictional boundaries and wars going on here, this is a united front to keep people well," said Oswald, moments after stepping off her return flight from the remote community, which is about 500 kilometres northeast from Winnipeg.

"I?m not in any way suggesting that we don?t need to continue to be vigilant, but I do have a sense that people are being cared for very well there and our partnership with the federal government is working and is going to continue to work."

Oswald said St. Theresa Point does have enough medical and sanitary supplies at this time, but have requested more for the future ? specifically hand sanitizer for homes without running water.

She added that the province?s urgent call to action Thursday ? in which an appeal was issued for more health practitioners to serve northern communities ? has been answered initially by two doctors and two nurse practitioners, and she hoped more volunteers would step forward in the near future.

Oswald was joined on her visit by Dr. Joel Kettner, Manitoba?s chief provincial public health officer, and Dr. Catherine Cook, who specializes in Aboriginal health with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.

city.desk@freepress.mb.ca

 

[Diane Morin]

Re: Severe Flu Cases Surge in Manitoba - 26 on Ventilators Since June 7 - Aboriginal Community Hit Hard

Re: Severe Flu Cases Surge in Manitoba - 26 on Ventilators Since June 7 - Aboriginal Community Hit Hard

Swine flu hitting northern Ont. First Nations; Lots of flu, Sandy Lake chief says

By Helen Branswell ? 2 hours ago

TORONTO ? Swine flu has started to circulate in First Nations communities in northern Ontario, with hundreds of people falling ill on the Sandy Lake First Nation reserve.

Chief Adam Fiddler said Sunday that an enhanced contingent of nurses and a doctor were distributing the antiviral drug Tamiflu to people who were ill.

"We do have a lot of sick people... 120 yesterday alone and they saw many last night and all day today," Fiddler said by phone from the community.

He said people don't seem to be suffering more severe disease than is seen during regular flu seasons. The challenge for the community is the fact that a lot of people are sick at the same time, which is why extra nurses and a doctor were flown in to help.

"So far I don't see anything more severe than a bad case of influenza," Fiddler said.

The community is located on Sandy Lake in northwestern Ontario, near the Manitoba border.

Fiddler said half of the kids attending the community's school were out sick this week and a decision was taken to close the school.
Local authorities are urging people try to avoid exposure to those who are sick, but that's easier said than done in the fly-in community of nearly 2,700 people.

"When ... you're in the city you may have two or three people and it's easy to say: Stay home," Fiddler said.

"But when you have three families living in one house, you're all going to be in contact. And it's more difficult to contain here in the community."
Authorities have also asked people in Sandy Lake not to travel to other First Nations communities along the lake, Kee-Way-Win and Koochiching, so as not to spread the virus.

Sandy Lake First Nations is a community is Oji-Cree, a combination of Ojibwa and Cree. It is not far from St. Theresa Point, the Manitoba community that hit the news last week with seemingly a serious outbreak of swine flu.

More than two dozen people from St. Theresa Point have been flown to Winnipeg for treatment.

Fiddler said five or six people from Sandy Lake have also been evacuated for treatment, though none was suffering from life-threatening illness. His 11-year-old son was one of them. The boy, who has severe asthma, was flown out for care early last week, but has since returned home - as have most of the people who were flown out for treatment.

The new flu virus has probably been circulating in the community for a couple of weeks, Fiddler said, but was only confirmed through laboratory testing mid-way through last week.


Follow Canadian Press Medical Writer Helen Branswell's flu updates on Twitter at CP-Branswell

<!-- google_ad_section_end(name=article) -->Copyright ? 2009 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

 

[hornblower]

Re: Severe Flu Cases Surge in Manitoba - 26 on Ventilators Since June 7 - Aboriginal Community Hit Hard

Re: Severe Flu Cases Surge in Manitoba - 26 on Ventilators Since June 7 - Aboriginal Community Hit Hard

http://winnipeg.ctv.ca/servlet/an/l...ed_supplies_090613/20090613/?hub=WinnipegHome

Chief worries worst is yet to come
Updated: Sat Jun. 13 2009 19:44:48

ctvwinnipeg.ca

Another person from northern Manitoba was flown into Winnipeg for treatment of a suspected case of severe H1N1 Saturday.


And as the outbreak does not appear to be slowing down, some community leaders are taking it upon themselves to be fully prepared in case the worst is yet to come.


Chief David Harper of the Garden Hill First Nation told CTV News his community is short of pretty much every medical supply.

On Saturday he was in Winnipeg and spent more than $15,000 on things like disinfecting wipes, gloves, masks and hand sanitizer to take back home.


He says he wants his band of 4000 to be ready.

"This is a learning experience, the worst is yet to come so we should prepare," he said.


"I warn every first nation community out there: make sure you have all of your supplies in place."


Harper says people on his reserve are being more cautious. They are avoiding large gatherings and are following health guidelines.


So far there are four confirmed cases of H1N1 in Garden Hill, all are under the age of 10.

The flu's effects on Garden Hill and other communities in the sparsely populated northeast section of Manitoba has caught the attention of the World Health Organization, which is concerned that many residents have suffered severe symptoms and have ended up in intensive care.

As of Friday, there were 31 Manitobans in hospital on ventilators due to the H1N1 flu. Two-thirds are aboriginal, health officials said. Many are from the Burntwood region, a sprawling northern area with only 10,000 residents and no hospital.

Aboriginal leaders have cancelled public events, closed schools, and have been trying to hand out masks to community residents. Health officials hinted Friday that Harper and other chiefs may be overreacting.

"Any decisions to restrict or limit public ... events are really dependent on just how widespread the virus is, and we've been saying it's certainly widespread but not to the extent that we need to consider that at this point in time," said Dr. Elise Weiss, acting chief provincial public health officer.

Masks need not be given to everyone in the community, Weiss added, but should be used primarily by health-care workers and others who deal with patients.

The calming words did not go over well with Harper.

"They tell us, 'you don't need that much supplies and you don't need to close the school down', but when you don't have a hospital and when you don't have a doctor ... you don't take risks," Harper said.

The Manitoba and federal governments have flown more doctors and nurses to the region in recent days, and provincial Health Minister Theresa Oswald expected more to offer to help out in the coming days.

"Right now we have an additional four personnel that have committed - two nurse practitioners, two doctors - which is excellent, but that's not yet enough."

Also Friday, federal Health Miniser Leona Aglukkaq said in the House of Commons that no nursing stations in northern Manitoba will close.

Her comments came just days after Health Canada issued a tender for contract nurses, saying some of the province's 24 northern nursing stations could be in danger of closing without adequate staff.

 

[sharon sanders]

Re: Severe Flu Cases Surge in Manitoba - 26 on Ventilators Since June 7 - Aboriginal Community Hit Hard

Re: Severe Flu Cases Surge in Manitoba - 26 on Ventilators Since June 7 - Aboriginal Community Hit Hard

"...Chief David Harper of the Garden Hill First Nation told CTV News his community is short of pretty much every medical supply.

On Saturday he was in Winnipeg and spent more than $15,000 on things like disinfecting wipes, gloves, masks and hand sanitizer to take back home.


He says he wants his band of 4000 to be ready.

"This is a learning experience, the worst is yet to come so we should prepare," he said.


"I warn every first nation community out there: make sure you have all of your supplies in place."


Harper says people on his reserve are being more cautious. They are avoiding large gatherings and are following health guidelines.


So far there are four confirmed cases of H1N1 in Garden Hill, all are under the age of 10. .."

 

[tropical]

Re: Severe Flu Cases Surge in Manitoba - 26 on Ventilators Since June 7 - Aboriginal Community Hit Hard

Re: Severe Flu Cases Surge in Manitoba - 26 on Ventilators Since June 7 - Aboriginal Community Hit Hard

News text:
...
"Any decisions to restrict or limit public ... events are really dependent on just how widespread the virus is, and we've been saying it's certainly widespread but not to the extent that we need to consider that at this point in time,"

What is a point to restrict and limit public events when it is already widespreading to an more critical extent?

Quite the oposite, the restrictions and the limitations must be inserted during the virus early spreading,
not starting only than when it contaminated and touched the most, or many, of the community - as the above statement pleaded for.

Or to better said: close early, and all the time (even when widespread) until it start to vanish - better than no containment.

 

[cartski]

Re: Severe Flu Cases Surge in Manitoba - 26 on Ventilators Since June 7 - Aboriginal Community Hit Hard

Re: Severe Flu Cases Surge in Manitoba - 26 on Ventilators Since June 7 - Aboriginal Community Hit Hard

Swine flu hitting northern Ont. First Nations; Lots of flu, Sandy Lake chief says

By Helen Branswell ? 2 hours ago

TORONTO ? Swine flu has started to circulate in First Nations communities in northern Ontario, with hundreds of people falling ill on the Sandy Lake First Nation reserve.

Public Statement: Flu Outbreak Update #3 - H1N1 confirmed
Submitted by admin on Sun, 06/14/2009 - 00:44
Public Statement ? Update #3

H1N1 Outbreak Confirmed in Sandy Lake

Saturday, June 13, 2009


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In a radio statement this evening, Sandy Lake Chief Adam Fiddler, Council members and representatives from the Sandy Lake Health Authority announced 10 confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus in Sandy Lake.

Test results came back today confirming the previously announced Influenza-A outbreak to be that of the H1N1 virus.

Individual testing for the H1N1 will no longer be conducted on community members with presenting flu-like symptoms.

Nursing Station staff will consider anyone with I.L.I (Influenza-Like Illnesses) and flu-like symptoms to have contracted the H1N1 virus and be treated with the anti-viral drug TamiFlu.

Treatments of TamiFlu became available to community members last night. 500 adult treatments arrived in Sandy Lake yesterday with another 1100 to have arrived this afternoon.

Nurse-in-Charge Marie Elaine Delvin said 120 cases were treated with TamiFlu on Saturday.

Chief and Council continue to implement all previously announced advisories and precautionary measures including travel and school closures.

Chief and Council will continue to work closely with the Nurse-in-Charge to monitor and assess the H1N1 outbreak for ongoing recommendations and action plan.

All media enquiries are to be directed to Chief Adam Fiddler by contacting the Band Office at (807) 774-3421, ext. 232 or at home at (807) 774-4300.

http://sandylake.firstnation.ca/public-statement-flu-outbreak-update-3-h1n1-confirmed

http://maps.google.ca/maps?near=sandy+lake+ontario&q=sandy+lake+first+nations&f=p&rl=1

 

[cartski]

Re: Severe Flu Cases Surge in Manitoba - 26 on Ventilators Since June 7 - Aboriginal Community Hit Hard

Re: Severe Flu Cases Surge in Manitoba - 26 on Ventilators Since June 7 - Aboriginal Community Hit Hard

Manitoba News Release
............................................................
June 15, 2009


BULLETIN #22 H1N1 FLU

. Manitoba Health and Healthy Living is reporting 33 new confirmed cases of H1N1 flu, bringing the Manitoba total to 152 reported laboratory-confirmed cases.

. There are currently 30 people admitted to intensive-care units in Manitoba with respiratory illnesses; not all are related to H1N1 influenza.

. Manitoba is also working to provide more doctors and nurses in First Nations communities experiencing influenza outbreaks. Over the weekend, two nurse practitioners who responded to the call for assistance travelled north to work. Two doctors who responded will leave later this week.

. A number of doctors and medical residents have also expressed interest in helping out. Details and arrangements for these professionals to assist are being worked out. There are a number of licensing and supervision issues that need to be worked through. This effort is intended to help provide for a longer-term solution.

. Manitoba Healthy and Healthy Living has been advised that nursing stations in northern Manitoba are stocked with masks and other supplies. Manitoba Public Health recommends the use of masks by health-care professionals in health-care settings based on a case-by-case assessment of exposure. In most situations, masks have not been recommended for general use by the public. Improper use of masks could actually cause spread of infection.

. Health Links-Info Sant? continues to handle calls, receiving close to 200 over the weekend, and has increased staff to manage the calls.

. All Manitobans are at risk for exposure to the H1N1 virus. The influenza outbreak is provincewide and it is likely that H1N1 is present in every community in Manitoba. Although there has been an increase in the number of people with severe respiratory illness, this has been a small proportion of the people who have 'the flu' in Manitoba in the last two months. The majority of people in Manitoba who have become ill have not required hospitalization.

. In Manitoba, there continues to be no public health reason to close schools, community centres or other public gathering places or to avoid travel to any community. There also has not been a public health reason to exclude people from any public setting based on their ethnic background or home community. The same basic precautions are still the best defense against H1N1 influenza, not matter where you are or who you are with.

[snip]


. For more information about H1N1 flu, see www.manitoba.ca.

SUMMARY OF ALL CONFIRMED H1N1 CASES IN MANITOBA AS OF JUNE 15
RHA
(Patient's residence) Total
Assiniboine
Brandon 7
Burntwood/Churchill 57
Central
Interlake 3
Nor-Man 12
North Eastman 3
Parkland 1
South Eastman 1
Winnipeg 68
Total 152

 

[theforeigner]

Re: Severe Flu Cases Surge in Manitoba - 26 on Ventilators Since June 7 - Aboriginal Community Hit Hard

Re: Severe Flu Cases Surge in Manitoba - 26 on Ventilators Since June 7 - Aboriginal Community Hit Hard

http://winnipeg.ctv.ca/servlet/an/l...flufile_hub_090427/20090427/?hub=WinnipegHome

Lots of news & news video?s on h1N1

 

[hornblower]

Re: Severe Flu Cases Surge in Manitoba - 26 on Ventilators Since June 7 - Aboriginal Community Hit Hard

Re: Severe Flu Cases Surge in Manitoba - 26 on Ventilators Since June 7 - Aboriginal Community Hit Hard

http://www.am1150.ca/news/14/944675

Swine flu is hitting First Nations in Manitoba harder, province's top doc says
By: Medical Reporter, THE CANADIAN PRESS

TORONTO - Manitoba's top doctor says it does appear that swine flu is hitting First Nations people in the province harder than non-aboriginal Manitobans.

Dr. Joel Kettner said numbers of cases are still small and analyses have to be treated with caution, but the impression created by the number of medical evacuations from remote northern communities seems to reflect a real situation.

"It appears from our information that . . . (among) our most severe cases, there's an over-representation from a population and demographic perspective, of First Nations and aboriginal people," Kettner, the chief medical officer of health, said Monday in an interview from Winnipeg.

He said his staff have been analyzing hospital admissions and other types of data to see who is getting sick and who among them is getting most severely ill.

Epidemiological information like that is critical for public health officials trying to tailor advice on reducing risk of exposure. As well, authorities will need to know who is at highest risk so that they can revise priority lists for pandemic vaccine when it becomes available.

Kettner said two-thirds of 24 Manitobans in intensive care units fighting swine flu last week were First Nations people. Given that aboriginal peoples make up only 10 to 15 per cent of the population of the province, that seems an unduly large proportion, he said.

The average age of those in this ICU cohort was 35 years old - an unusually young age for people to need ICU care for flu.

"We're seeing very few people in intensive care older than 55," said Kettner. "And we're seeing very few infants, or under two (years of age)."

Chief David McDougall's northern Manitoba community of St. Theresa Point has had 27 people transported south for treatment of swine flu. Some of the people who have become severely ill aren't among those one would typically expect to see hospitalized for flu, he said.

"I know some of the people. And some people were in relatively good health," McDougall said.

Two were pregnant women. One miscarried, the other had to have her baby delivered by caesarean section.

Chief Adam Fiddler from the Sandy Lake First Nations community in Northwestern Ontario said medical evacuations from his community have risen in the past few days. So far the community has sent out about 10 people to Winnipeg for care. Some have already returned.

(Sandy Lake, which is near the Manitoba border, is 450 kilometres from Winnipeg, but 600 kilometres north of Thunder Bay, the nearest large Ontario city.)

A problem Sandy Lake is starting to see is secondary health problems setting in for people recovering from the flu, Fiddler said.

The cases, still few in number, may be pneumonia, he suggested, adding people are being urged to seek care if they seem to be regressing after recovery. One of the recent evacuees had earlier recovered from H1N1 flu, he said.

Kettner acknowledged that epidemiologists might argue that the relative high numbers of First Nations people in Manitoba's ICUs may reflect the fact that more aboriginal people have been infected to date.

"It could be that crowded housing conditions and small communities promote faster spread and faster exposure," he said, adding that while he is open to that explanation, he doesn't believe it accounts for the whole story.

Kettner travelled to St. Theresa Point last Friday with Manitoba Health Minister Theresa Oswald.

He said his staff are at work trying to tease out more details of what is going on. He said they are conducting a very detailed epidemiological analysis of all respiratory infections in at least one community and maybe more. He would not name the community or say whether it is a First Nations reserve.

"We're going to try to paint a very full picture of this," he said, adding he expects to have some data from that work in the next few days.

Kettner said figuring out whether First Nations people are being disproportionately harder hit is a necessary part of understanding swine flu.

"It may be an important indicator, not only of understanding the disease with respect to who gets most severely ill, but also it's just a marker to say 'Well, if that's the truth, whatever the reason is, people who are aboriginal or people ... looking after people who are aboriginal should be aware of that fact,"' he said.

The findings might guide how care is prioritized, he added.

-

Follow Canadian Press Medical Writer Helen Branswell's flu updates on Twitter at CP-Branswell

 

[cartski]

Re: Severe Flu Cases Surge in Manitoba - 26 on Ventilators Since June 7 - Aboriginal Community Hit Hard

Re: Severe Flu Cases Surge in Manitoba - 26 on Ventilators Since June 7 - Aboriginal Community Hit Hard

Manitoba News Release
............................................................
June 16, 2009

BULLETIN #23 H1N1 FLU

. Manitoba Health and Healthy Living is reporting two deaths associated with H1N1 influenza in Manitoba.

One is a man in his 40s from the Winnipeg health region who had been hospitalized and had no known significant underlying health conditions.

The second is a woman in her 40s from the NOR-MAN health region who had been hospitalized and had significant underlying conditions. These are the first reported deaths associated with H1N1 flu in Manitoba.

. There are 74 new confirmed cases of H1N1 flu, bringing the Manitoba total to 226 reported laboratory-confirmed cases.

. The call to action for health-care workers in northern Manitoba is continuing. Two additional nurse practitioners have been working in a northern community. Three additional doctors will travel north this week. Additional staff responding to the call to action include two more nurse practitioners, 13 nurses and 10 medical residents. Logistical issues surrounding the supervision of medical residents and licences continue to be addressed.

. Interested physician and nurses can indicate their interest in working in northern communities that need additional resources by visiting the flu website at www.manitoba.ca where there will be a Physicians and Nurses Needed button.

. All Manitobans are at risk for exposure to the H1N1 virus. The influenza outbreak is provincewide and it is likely that H1N1 is present in every community in Manitoba. Although there has been an increase in the number of people with severe respiratory illness, this has been a small proportion of the people who have had "the flu" in Manitoba in the last two months. The majority of people in Manitoba who have become ill have not required hospitalization.

. In Manitoba, there continues to be no public health reason to close schools, community centres or other public gathering places or to avoid travel to any community. There also has not been a public health reason to exclude people from any public setting based on their ethnic background or home community. The same basic precautions are still the best defense against H1N1 influenza, no matter where you are or who you are with.

[snip]

For more information about H1N1 flu, see www.manitoba.ca.

[no table provided in release - see website later in the day http://www.gov.mb.ca/health/publichealth/sri/cases.html]