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Toronto - Bird Flu Speculation: Inaccurate Media Reporting

Shiloh

Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_20762.aspx

Couple Isolated At Toronto Hospital Over Bird Flu Fears
Wednesday March 19, 2008
CityNews.ca Staff

An elderly couple has reportedly been isolated at Toronto East General Hospital over possible bird flu fears.

The couple had just returned from a trip to Bangladesh, where there's an outbreak of avian flu. They apparently visited areas affected by the virus.

Both were transported to hospital Tuesday night after complaining of flu-like symptoms.

Since being admitted, emergency and hospital workers have taken extra steps to be safe including wearing masks and gloves.

Officials reportedly aren't overly worried but they want to be on the safe side and wait for test results to confirm what the couple is ailing from and hopefully rule out bird flu. Those results may not come back for a few days.

Bird flu, also known as the H5N1 virus, spreads quickly and has a mortality rate as high as 70 per cent..

Health experts fear avian flu is the most likely source for the next pandemic.
 
Toronto - Bird Flu Speculation: Inaccurate Media Reporting

Media Statement - Bird Flu Speculation: Inaccurate Media Reporting

TORONTO, March 19 /CNW/ - Toronto East General Hospital (TEGH) is
concerned about inaccurate media speculation and reporting regarding human
cases of avian flu. TEGH has no reason to speculate that any patients in the
hospital have avian flu.


Toronto is experiencing steadily increasing cases of seasonal flu in the
community. For example, during the week of March 2 to 8th, 2008, there were 47 new cases of seasonal flu (not avian flu) in Toronto. Although TEGH has effectively responded to an increased number of patients with seasonal
flu-like symptoms, including those from other facilities experiencing seasonal
flu outbreaks, the hospital has no reason to believe that any patients at TEGH
have H5N1 avian flu.


Furthermore, media reports are indicating that the individuals suspected
to have avian flu had recently traveled to Bangladesh. It is important to
clarify that, according to the World Health Network, there have been no
reported human cases of H5N1 avian flu in Bangladesh.

TEGH has a comprehensive screening program to identify patients who
present with potential respiratory illness. The hospital is proud of our
record in identifying such individuals. Effective identification enables TEGH
to provide appropriate treatment, to utilize respiratory precautions and to
protect staff and others. We are confident that no staff, patients or visitors
have been inadvertently exposed to seasonal influenza at TEGH.

We wish to reassure the public that the hospital is safe and that there
is no reason for anybody who has visited the hospital to be concerned. All
services, including scheduled procedures, continue to be fully available. We
do not anticipate a need for any reduction in service or visitation
restrictions.

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2008/19/c5554.html
 
Re: Toronto - Bird Flu Speculation: Inaccurate Media Reporting

Bird Flu Speculation Inaccurate, Toronto Hospital Insists
Wednesday March 19, 2008 - CityNews.ca Staff

Fears a couple that just returned from Bangladesh could have avian flu are inaccurate, according to a Toronto hospital.

The elderly couple was admitted to Toronto East General Hospital Tuesday night after complaining of flu-like symptoms and apparently isolated.

However speculation that they could be suffering from a human form of the H5N1 virus is unfounded, the hospital said in a statement released Wednesday.​

"Toronto East General Hospital (TEGH) is concerned about inaccurate media speculation and reporting regarding human cases of avian flu. TEGH has no reason to speculate that any patients in the hospital have avian flu," the statement read.

"Furthermore, media reports are indicating that the individuals suspected to have avian flu had recently traveled to Bangladesh. It is important to clarify that, according to the World Health Network, there have been no reported human cases of H5N1 avian flu in Bangladesh." [This per se does not excludes AI or other viral diseases - ironorehopper]

Officials did say they were dealing with an increased number of patients with seasonal flu-like symptoms.

"We have no reason for any of our community members, our patients, or our staff to be concerned about coming to the hospital," explained Laura Visser, a TEGH spokesperson.

"We will not be canceling any of the procedures that are scheduled to occur today or for the rest of the week. All services are operating as planned. There is also no restriction for visitation."

They're still waiting for test results to confirm what the couple is ailing from, but they insist bird flu is not a possibility.

The H5N1 virus spreads quickly and has a mortality rate as high as 70 per cent..

Health experts fear avian flu is the most likely source for the next pandemic.

-
http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_20762.aspx
------
 
Re: Toronto - Bird Flu Speculation: Inaccurate Media Reporting

Toronto bird flu lockdown misreported
Published: March 19, 2008 at 10:52 AM

TORONTO, March 19 (UPI) --

A Toronto hospital denied media reports Wednesday an elderly couple had been quarantined amid fears they had returned from Asia with avian flu.

CITY-TV reported an elderly couple who had just returned from Bangladesh were admitted to Toronto East General Hospital Tuesday night, and workers were taking "extra steps to be safe including wearing masks and gloves."​

Soon after, the hospital issued a statement saying it "has no reason to speculate that any patients in the hospital have avian flu."

The hospital also took a swipe at the broadcaster's reporting of an "outbreak" of the H5N1 virus in Bangladesh.

"It is important to clarify that, according to the World Health Network, there have been no reported human cases of H5N1 avian flu in Bangladesh," the statement said.

"We are confident that no staff, patients or visitors have been inadvertently exposed to seasonal influenza at TEGH."
-
http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_News/2008/03/19/toronto_bird_flu_lockdown_misreported/3792/
------
 
Re: Toronto - Bird Flu Speculation: Inaccurate Media Reporting

While the wording of the press release is carefully worded to say nothing, the symptoms of the patients remain unclear.
 
Re: Toronto - Bird Flu Speculation: Inaccurate Media Reporting

Hospital downplays bird flu threat TheStar.com - GTA - Hospital downplays bird flu threat
<!-- LANDSCAPE IMAGE FOR THE ARTICLE--><!-- SIDE BAR CONTAINER --><!-- PUBLISH DATE -->March 19, 2008
<!-- CREDIT 1-->THE CANADIAN PRESS
<!-- ARTICLE CONTENT-->
A Toronto hospital says there's no reason to believe any of its patients have bird flu amid media speculation that a couple who returned from Bangladesh were potential carriers of a deadly strain of the virus.
Toronto East General Hospital said in a statement that it has recently treated an increased number of patients with flu-like symptoms, but that there's nothing to suggest any of them have H5N1 avian flu.
The statement was responding to local media reports that said a couple who recently returned from Bangladesh were admitted to the hospital late Tuesday with flu symptoms and were being tested for possible bird flu infection.
Bangladesh has been grappling with an outbreak of the virulent H5N1 strain among animals, but there have been no human cases reported in the country.
The hospital said it was concerned about "inaccurate media speculation and reporting regarding human cases of avian flu."
Hospital spokeswoman Laura Visser says while she can't comment on specific cases the hospital was awaiting lab results, as it does for any patient with flu-like symptoms.
When asked about the media reports, Ontario Health Minister George Smitherman said there was "no confirmation of any cases, just speculation."

http://www.thestar.com/printArticle/347868
 
Re: Toronto - Bird Flu Speculation: Inaccurate Media Reporting

VIDEO

http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_20762.aspx

Traduction automatique

La sp?culation de grippe aviaire est impr?cise, l'h?pital de Toronto insiste

Mercredi 19 mars 2008
Personnel de CityNews.ca

Dans une ville une fois que d?vast? par SARS, il est seulement normal qu'il y aurait de grands soucis concernant m?me le conseil d'une maladie dangereuse. Et ce peut ?tre ce qui a plac? outre des craintes au sujet d'un cas possible de la grippe d'oiseau la nuit d'h?pital local mardi.

Quand un vieux couple qui ?tait juste retourn? du Bangladesh a apparu au H?pital G?n?ral est de Toronto souffrant du mauvais grippe-comme des sympt?mes, les fonctionnaires l? n'ont pris aucun risque. Les patients ont ?t? imm?diatement isol?s, les membres du personnel ont utilis? des robes, gants et des masques et aucun visiteur n'ont ?t? permis dedans ? la zone prot?g?e.

Cela en a men? croire que les a?n?s ?taient juste revenus d'un secteur du monde o? la contrainte pourrait ?tre pr?sente. Mais mercredi, l'h?pital a pris de grandes douleurs pour s'assurer l? n'?tait aucune raison de craindre que la maladie ait fait son chemin vers le Canada.

? L'h?pital est s?r et nous ne sommes pas ne nous sommes inqui?t?s d'aucune maladie particuli?re de sorte ? l'heure actuelle, ? assure Dr. Jim Downey.

? Nous n'avons aucune raison d'aucun de nos membre de la Communaut?, nos patients ou notre personnel ? pr?occuper par venir ? l'h?pital, ? ajoute le porte-parole Laura Visser. ? Nous sommes confiants qu'il n'y ait pas un risque ? quiconque ? ?tre dans l'h?pital. Nous ne d?commanderons pas les proc?dures l'unes des qui sont programm?es pour se produire aujourd'hui ou pour le reste de la semaine. Tous les services fonctionnent comme pr?vu. ?

Elle rappelle que l? ont non ?t? aucun rapport de la grippe aviaire appr?tant au Bangladesh, et qu'il est possible les couples a la grippe - juste non ce type. Ils attendent des essais pour ?tre s?rs.

Dr. Karl Kabasele de sp?cialiste m?dical en CityNews croit que g?n?ral de Toronto ? l'est a fait tout convenablement. ? Les pr?cautions appropri?es ont ?t? prises, et vous savez, dans cette ?re de poteau-SRAS il n'est pas peu commun pour quelqu'un avec une maladie respiratoire d'?tre s?par? du reste de la population d'h?pital. ?

Il note la ville - et particuli?rement ses dispensaires - appris beaucoup du SRAS et ces le?ons encore sont mises en pratique aujourd'hui.

M?me le spectre du souci d'augmenter de grippe d'oiseau pour les la plupart. Le virus H5N1 ?carte rapidement et a un taux de mortalit? aussi haut que la grippe aviaire de crainte de 70 de pour cent experts en mati?re de sant? est la source le plus susceptible pour la prochaine pand?mie.

Mais les fonctionnaires ici sont r?solus l? n'est rien ? s'inqui?ter environ dans ce cas-ci et il n'y a aucun danger de n'importe quelle manifestation.

Pour plus sur la grippe d'oiseau, cliquez sur ici.



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


Rapport g?n?ral est de grippe d'oiseau de Toronto

? Le H?pital G?n?ral est de Toronto (TEGH) est pr?occup? par la sp?culation impr?cise et le reportage de m?dias concernant des cas humains de la grippe aviaire. TEGH n'a aucune raison de sp?culer que tous les patients dans l'h?pital ont la grippe aviaire.

? Toronto ?prouve augmenter solidement des cas de la grippe saisonni?re dans la communaut?. Par exemple, pendant la semaine du 2 au 8 mars 2008, il y avait 47 nouveaux cas de grippe saisonni?re (pas grippe aviaire) ? Toronto. Bien que TEGH ait effectivement r?pondu ? un plus grand nombre de patients avec saisonnier grippe-comme des sympt?mes, y compris ceux d'autres ?quipements ?prouvant des manifestations saisonni?res de grippe, l'h?pital n'a aucune raison de croire que tous les patients ? TEGH ont la grippe aviaire H5N1.

? En outre, les rapports de m?dias indiquent que les individus suspect?s pour avoir la grippe aviaire avaient r?cemment voyag? au Bangladesh. Il est important de clarifier que, selon le r?seau de sant? du monde, il n'y a eu aucun cas humain rapport? de la grippe aviaire H5N1 au Bangladesh.

? TEGH a un programme de d?pistage complet pour identifier les patients qui se pr?sentent avec la maladie respiratoire potentielle. L'h?pital est fier de notre disque en identifiant de tels individus. L'identification efficace permet ? TEGH de fournir le traitement appropri?, d'utiliser des pr?cautions respiratoires et de prot?ger le personnel et d'autres. Nous sommes confiants qu'aucun personnel, patient ou visiteur n'aient ?t? par distraction expos?s ? la grippe saisonni?re ? TEGH.

? Nous souhaitons rassurer le public que l'h?pital est s?r et qu'il n'y a aucune raison de quiconque qui a visit? l'h?pital ? concerner. Tous les services, y compris des proc?dures programm?es, continuent ? ?tre enti?rement disponibles. Nous ne pr?voyons pas un besoin d'aucune r?duction des restrictions de service ou de visitation. ?

Un touriste ?tranger se tient ? c?t? d'un camp de volaille ? un march? ? Denpasar sur l'?le de Bali le 19 mars 2008. (Cr?dit de photo : Images de Sonny Tumbelaka/Getty)

********************************

Bird Flu Speculation Inaccurate, Toronto Hospital Insists
Wednesday March 19, 2008
CityNews.ca Staff
In a city once devastated by SARS, it's only natural that there would be big concerns about even the hint of a dangerous disease. And that may be what set off fears about a possible case of bird flu at a local hospital Tuesday night.

When an elderly couple who had just returned from Bangladesh showed up at Toronto East General Hospital suffering from bad flu-like symptoms, officials there took no chances. The patients were immediately isolated, staff members wore gowns, gloves and masks and no visitors were allowed in to the secure area.

That led some to believe the seniors had just come back from an area of the world where the strain might be present. But on Wednesday, the hospital took great pains to assure there was no reason to fear the disease had made its way to Canada.

"The hospital is safe and we're not worried about any particular illness of any kind at the present time," assures Dr. Jim Downey.

"We have no reason for any of our community members, our patients or our staff to be concerned about coming to the hospital," adds spokesperson Laura Visser. "We're confident that there's not a risk to anybody to be in the hospital. We will not be cancelling any of the procedures that are scheduled to occur today or for the rest of the week. All services are operating as planned."

She reminds that there have been no reports of avian flu surfacing in Bangladesh, and that it's possible the couple has the flu - just not that type. They're awaiting tests to be sure.

CityNews Medical Specialist Dr. Karl Kabasele believes Toronto East General did everything right. "The appropriate precautions were taken, and you know, in this post-SARS era it's not unusual for someone with a respiratory illness to be separated from the rest of the hospital population."

He notes the city - and especially its health care facilities - learned a lot from SARS and those lessons are still being put into practice today.

Even the spectre of bird flu raises concern for most. The H5N1 virus spreads quickly and has a mortality rate as high as 70 per cent. Health experts fear avian flu is the most likely source for the next pandemic.

But officials here are adamant there's nothing to worry about in this case and there's no danger of any outbreak.

For more on bird flu, click here

***********************

Toronto East General Bird Flu Statement

"Toronto East General Hospital (TEGH) is concerned about inaccurate media speculation and reporting regarding human cases of avian flu. TEGH has no reason to speculate that any patients in the hospital have avian flu.

"Toronto is experiencing steadily increasing cases of seasonal flu in the community. For example, during the week of March 2 to 8th, 2008, there were 47 new cases of seasonal flu (not avian flu) in Toronto. Although TEGH has effectively responded to an increased number of patients with seasonal flu-like symptoms, including those from other facilities experiencing seasonal flu outbreaks, the hospital has no reason to believe that any patients at TEGH have H5N1 avian flu.

"Furthermore, media reports are indicating that the individuals suspected to have avian flu had recently traveled to Bangladesh. It is important to clarify that, according to the World Health Network, there have been no reported human cases of H5N1 avian flu in Bangladesh.

"TEGH has a comprehensive screening program to identify patients who present with potential respiratory illness. The hospital is proud of our record in identifying such individuals. Effective identification enables TEGH to provide appropriate treatment, to utilize respiratory precautions and to protect staff and others. We are confident that no staff, patients or visitors have been inadvertently exposed to seasonal influenza at TEGH.

"We wish to reassure the public that the hospital is safe and that there is no reason for anybody who has visited the hospital to be concerned. All services, including scheduled procedures, continue to be fully available. We do not anticipate a need for any reduction in service or visitation restrictions."

A foreign tourist stands next to a poultry cage at a market in Denpasar on Bali island on March 19, 2008. (Photo credit: Sonny Tumbelaka/Getty Images)

http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_20762.aspx
 
Re: Toronto - Bird Flu Speculation: Inaccurate Media Reporting

:D That bird flu scare? Never mind...
Posted: March 19, 2008, 5:49 PM by Rob Roberts
Ali Zafar, National Post
Bird flu hysteria came to Toronto briefly today, after an erroneous report that an elderly couple had been quarantined due to fears they had returned from Bangladesh with avian flu.
Dr. James Downey, infection control officer at Toronto East General Hospital, said he didn?t know who first made the inaccurate report, but said his first reaction was ?shock? as it became the biggest story in town.
Initial reports stated the couple went to the hospital with flu-like symptoms last night, while staff members put on masks, gloves and gowns ? standard procedure with respiratory cases, Dr. Downey said.
?For the media to want to find out the story if there were patients who truly had bird flu, I can?t blame them for wanting to do that, but in this case there wasn?t any information that was supporting that potential diagnosis,? said Dr. Downey.
Dr. Downey said he wasn?t at liberty to say what the couple came down with, but emphasized it isn?t bird flu. There have been no reported human cases of H5N1 avian flu in Bangladesh, the hospital noted.:tiphat: http://network.nationalpost.com/np/...008/03/19/that-bird-flu-scare-never-mind.aspx
 
Re: Toronto - Bird Flu Speculation: Inaccurate Media Reporting

"Initial reports stated the couple went to the hospital with flu-like symptoms last night, while staff members put on masks, gloves and gowns – standard procedure with respiratory cases, Dr. Downey said."

Imagin what kind of hysteria would be if an pandemic realy start, looking those planed "all necessary workers" wearing on the necessary to work encircled by the pandemic virus ...

Exercises can't prepare enaugh, because in an exercise everybody knows that nothing realy happens, and that nothing will infect them near the corner if they do some erroneus move.
 
Re: Toronto - Bird Flu Speculation: Inaccurate Media Reporting

Travellers test negative for bird flu

JAMES BRADSHAW

With a report from Megan Grittani-Livingston

March 20, 2008

Toronto got a glimpse yesterday of how health officials might respond to the arrival of bird flu in Canada as two people, who recently returned from abroad, were admitted to Toronto East General Hospital on Tuesday evening exhibiting flu-like symptoms.


For all the speculation about a potentially devastating pandemic on the horizon, the reaction was routine.

Hospital officials were at pains yesterday to dispel rumours that the H5N1 strain of the influenza virus, known as avian or bird flu, had been detected in the two patients. Hospital spokeswoman Laura Visser said there had been a flood of calls from people concerned that they might have been infected while at the hospital.

A spokesperson for Toronto Public Health confirmed that two people who had recently visited Bangladesh, which has reported cases of avian flu in birds but not humans, were admitted to hospital and kept in isolation while a series of tests, which later came back negative for the virus, were conducted.

"We believe the hospital to be totally safe, all appointments and tests are being done as per usual schedules," said James Downey, the hospital's infectious-disease consultant and control officer. "We're not concerned about anything at the present time."

Ambulance personnel who transported the patients wore masks, gloves, gowns and goggles, but Toronto Emergency Medical Services spokesman Adam Thurston said that is standard procedure for anyone coming in contact with flu-like symptoms.

Patients arriving at a hospital with such symptoms are screened twice and asked about their travel history, which remains one of the best indicators of the likelihood of a case of avian flu. Toronto Public Health is notified of any patient who has travelled outside North America and has the requisite symptoms.

Anyone with at least a low probability of having contracted bird flu is given a full range of tests, including a DNA and RNA analysis taken from a swab of the inner nose, and their family and contacts are interviewed by a Toronto Public Health officer.

Some experts stressed that though the effects of avian flu are grave - 63 per cent of the 373 confirmed human cases have died - it is barely, if at all, transmissible from one human to another.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080320.FLU20/TPStory/TPNational/Ontario/
 
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