Roehl_JC
Moderator
WELLAND ? H1N1 claimed another life.
Niagara's public health department confirmed Wednesday that an adult male from Welland succumbed to the virus on Sunday ? the third H1N1 related fatality in Niagara since the virus first arrived in the spring.
Although patient confidentiality regulations prevented the health department from releasing the name or age of the man, an obituary for Raymond Banks, published in his hometown Owen Sound newspaper, says the 35-year-old father of four young children died Sunday after a "courageous battle with H1N1."
Raymond's mother Linda Banks told the Owen Sound Sun Times on Wednesday the family included the cause of death in the obituary to instill in people how serious the pandemic strain of influenza can be.
"Some people don't take this very seriously," she said.
"We would like people to realize that this was a healthy young man. We put it (the obituary) in the paper that way to make people pay attention."
She said her son, who grew up in the Markdale area, lived in Welland for the past 15 years.
Her son learned he had the flu at a Welland clinic on Oct. 27, she said ? adding she's concerned that the clinic sent him home after making the diagnosis.
"This has got to stop. Clinics are still sending sick people home," she said.
By Nov. 1, she said he was so ill that he was admitted to hospital. A few days later he was transferred to St. Catharines, then to Toronto General Hospital as his condition worsened. He died there Sunday.
"They had him on a special breathing machine ... it attacked his lungs," she said.
Raymond's brother Paul Banks, who lives in Holstein, Ont., told The Tribune that Raymond had no other medical conditions that could have contributed to his death.
He described Raymond as very athletic and healthy.
Paul Banks said physicians in Toronto told the family that the virus "attacks vulnerable parts of the body. If it happens to be your heart or your lungs or your brain, that's where it will locate to."
Raymond was unemployed at the time of his death after the Welland company he worked for closed its doors in June. Paul Banks did not know the name of the business.
A trust fund was set up for Raymond's family, to help his wife Rachel Banks and their children "cope with the loss," Paul Banks said.
Their children include Jessica, 15, his stepson Steven Kozak, 8, Kierstyn Banks, 5, and Ashyln Banks, 3.
The family will be receiving friends at the J.J. Patterson & Sons Funeral
Residence at 19 Young St. in Welland from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday night.
Despite his brother's death, Paul said some members of his family are still cautious about getting the vaccination.
"Some of us believe that it's too soon to really know what the repercussions will really be," he said.
Niagara's medical officer of health Dr. Robin Williams, however, reassured people that the vaccine is scientifically proven to be safe.
"Science is very clear that this is a safe and effective vaccine," she said, adding the vaccine has been monitored very carefully.
Over the past few years, she said there "have been all sorts of allegations about vaccines in all sorts of way shapes and forms ? none of which have borne out under science."
When weighed against "the challenges of getting this disease, especially in basically pretty young healthy people," Williams said there's no question that everyone should be getting the vaccination.
While it's also important to practice other methods of protecting yourself from H1N1, such as hand washing and keeping a safe distance from people with influenza-like symptoms, Williams said "those pale in comparison to the protection that the vaccine gives you."
Thanks to the health department's efforts this week, 2,282 more people received the vaccination at public health department clinics held in Welland.
Fiona Peaceful, the health department's community development manager, said 2,116 people received vaccinations at clinics held at the old Canadian Tire store on Niagara St. on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. And 166 more people received vaccinations at a clinic set up at Niagara College, Wednesday.
Additional H1N1 vaccination clinics are scheduled for the weeks ahead, including at Niagara Region Headquarters, 2201 St. David's Rd. in Thorold.
abenner@wellandtribune.ca
http://www.wellandtribune.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2193099
Niagara's public health department confirmed Wednesday that an adult male from Welland succumbed to the virus on Sunday ? the third H1N1 related fatality in Niagara since the virus first arrived in the spring.
Although patient confidentiality regulations prevented the health department from releasing the name or age of the man, an obituary for Raymond Banks, published in his hometown Owen Sound newspaper, says the 35-year-old father of four young children died Sunday after a "courageous battle with H1N1."
Raymond's mother Linda Banks told the Owen Sound Sun Times on Wednesday the family included the cause of death in the obituary to instill in people how serious the pandemic strain of influenza can be.
"Some people don't take this very seriously," she said.
"We would like people to realize that this was a healthy young man. We put it (the obituary) in the paper that way to make people pay attention."
She said her son, who grew up in the Markdale area, lived in Welland for the past 15 years.
Her son learned he had the flu at a Welland clinic on Oct. 27, she said ? adding she's concerned that the clinic sent him home after making the diagnosis.
"This has got to stop. Clinics are still sending sick people home," she said.
By Nov. 1, she said he was so ill that he was admitted to hospital. A few days later he was transferred to St. Catharines, then to Toronto General Hospital as his condition worsened. He died there Sunday.
"They had him on a special breathing machine ... it attacked his lungs," she said.
Raymond's brother Paul Banks, who lives in Holstein, Ont., told The Tribune that Raymond had no other medical conditions that could have contributed to his death.
He described Raymond as very athletic and healthy.
Paul Banks said physicians in Toronto told the family that the virus "attacks vulnerable parts of the body. If it happens to be your heart or your lungs or your brain, that's where it will locate to."
Raymond was unemployed at the time of his death after the Welland company he worked for closed its doors in June. Paul Banks did not know the name of the business.
A trust fund was set up for Raymond's family, to help his wife Rachel Banks and their children "cope with the loss," Paul Banks said.
Their children include Jessica, 15, his stepson Steven Kozak, 8, Kierstyn Banks, 5, and Ashyln Banks, 3.
The family will be receiving friends at the J.J. Patterson & Sons Funeral
Residence at 19 Young St. in Welland from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday night.
Despite his brother's death, Paul said some members of his family are still cautious about getting the vaccination.
"Some of us believe that it's too soon to really know what the repercussions will really be," he said.
Niagara's medical officer of health Dr. Robin Williams, however, reassured people that the vaccine is scientifically proven to be safe.
"Science is very clear that this is a safe and effective vaccine," she said, adding the vaccine has been monitored very carefully.
Over the past few years, she said there "have been all sorts of allegations about vaccines in all sorts of way shapes and forms ? none of which have borne out under science."
When weighed against "the challenges of getting this disease, especially in basically pretty young healthy people," Williams said there's no question that everyone should be getting the vaccination.
While it's also important to practice other methods of protecting yourself from H1N1, such as hand washing and keeping a safe distance from people with influenza-like symptoms, Williams said "those pale in comparison to the protection that the vaccine gives you."
Thanks to the health department's efforts this week, 2,282 more people received the vaccination at public health department clinics held in Welland.
Fiona Peaceful, the health department's community development manager, said 2,116 people received vaccinations at clinics held at the old Canadian Tire store on Niagara St. on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. And 166 more people received vaccinations at a clinic set up at Niagara College, Wednesday.
Additional H1N1 vaccination clinics are scheduled for the weeks ahead, including at Niagara Region Headquarters, 2201 St. David's Rd. in Thorold.
abenner@wellandtribune.ca
http://www.wellandtribune.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2193099