Gert van der Hoek
In Memoriam - Editor, Senior Moderator
Woman in tears over flu flap
Warning others she may have virus sparks hostility
By CLARA HO, SUN MEDIA
The Edmonton Sun
EDMONTON -- An Edmonton mother is shocked by the panicked and hostile reaction she received from some community members after informing them she may have contracted the H1N1 swine flu.
Samantha Bentley now hopes officials do more to educate the public on the outbreak.
"I just want people to be educated to ease people's hysteria," said Bentley, 33, while self-quarantined at her west-end home yesterday.
"It was not appropriate -- no matter what kind of communicable disease you have -- to treat people the way I was treated."
Bentley said about two weeks ago, her four children ranging from age five to 14 became sick with coughs, fever and diarrhea.
While her children quickly recovered, Bentley said she was worried that her underlying health conditions would make her susceptible to the flu virus.
FELL ILL
Sure enough, Bentley fell ill a few days later and checked herself into hospital where her doctor told her she had likely contracted H1N1.
Lab results were not immediately available but Bentley's doctor told her that if she felt it necessary, she could inform those she had come into contact with over the last few days that she likely had the virus.
"I chose to err on the side of caution," said Bentley, who donned a surgical mask and gloves to retrace her steps and speak with several business owners and friends she had been in contact with.
Her friends and neighbours were understanding and supportive, said Bentley. A bank manager in her neighbourhood even took down her name and address, and later dropped off groceries for her family knowing she wouldn't be able to leave her home and make the trip.
"It was so kind of him," Bentley said, adding she was blown away by the man's generosity and understanding.
But Bentley said others, including a pharmacist and a cashier at a local drug store she frequented, were dismissive when she informed them she may have the virus, telling her to leave the premises immediately.
"I was treated so horribly, I was put to tears," said Bentley, who moved here from New Brunswick over a year ago.
"It was just humiliating."
EDUCATE PUBLIC
Even though the swine flu has dominated news headlines for months now, Bentley hopes her story may help educate the public and ease some of the hysteria around it.
Dr. Gerry Predy, Alberta medical officer of health, said while the number of confirmed cases in Alberta exceeded 1,000 as of yesterday -- with at least 40 new cases in Edmonton and area, bringing the city's total to 571 -- there is no cause for panic and that people should continue taking the proper steps to prevent the spread of the virus.
"If you think you have the flu, stay home, don't go to work or send your kids to camp and don't visit people in the hospital," Predy said.
He said people who suspect they have been infected should only get tested if they have underlying health conditions like asthma or a "serious manifestation of the disease," such as bronchitis or pneumonia.
Upon diagnosis, it is not necessary for people to inform those they have been seen or met with unless there has been close contact, Predy said, adding that decision is ultimately left with the patient.
Predy advises people to visit the Alberta Health and Wellness website at www.health.alberta.ca or call Alberta Health Link at 1-866-408-LINK for more information about the virus.
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2009/07/03/10012731-sun.html
Warning others she may have virus sparks hostility
By CLARA HO, SUN MEDIA
The Edmonton Sun
EDMONTON -- An Edmonton mother is shocked by the panicked and hostile reaction she received from some community members after informing them she may have contracted the H1N1 swine flu.
Samantha Bentley now hopes officials do more to educate the public on the outbreak.
"I just want people to be educated to ease people's hysteria," said Bentley, 33, while self-quarantined at her west-end home yesterday.
"It was not appropriate -- no matter what kind of communicable disease you have -- to treat people the way I was treated."
Bentley said about two weeks ago, her four children ranging from age five to 14 became sick with coughs, fever and diarrhea.
While her children quickly recovered, Bentley said she was worried that her underlying health conditions would make her susceptible to the flu virus.
FELL ILL
Sure enough, Bentley fell ill a few days later and checked herself into hospital where her doctor told her she had likely contracted H1N1.
Lab results were not immediately available but Bentley's doctor told her that if she felt it necessary, she could inform those she had come into contact with over the last few days that she likely had the virus.
"I chose to err on the side of caution," said Bentley, who donned a surgical mask and gloves to retrace her steps and speak with several business owners and friends she had been in contact with.
Her friends and neighbours were understanding and supportive, said Bentley. A bank manager in her neighbourhood even took down her name and address, and later dropped off groceries for her family knowing she wouldn't be able to leave her home and make the trip.
"It was so kind of him," Bentley said, adding she was blown away by the man's generosity and understanding.
But Bentley said others, including a pharmacist and a cashier at a local drug store she frequented, were dismissive when she informed them she may have the virus, telling her to leave the premises immediately.
"I was treated so horribly, I was put to tears," said Bentley, who moved here from New Brunswick over a year ago.
"It was just humiliating."
EDUCATE PUBLIC
Even though the swine flu has dominated news headlines for months now, Bentley hopes her story may help educate the public and ease some of the hysteria around it.
Dr. Gerry Predy, Alberta medical officer of health, said while the number of confirmed cases in Alberta exceeded 1,000 as of yesterday -- with at least 40 new cases in Edmonton and area, bringing the city's total to 571 -- there is no cause for panic and that people should continue taking the proper steps to prevent the spread of the virus.
"If you think you have the flu, stay home, don't go to work or send your kids to camp and don't visit people in the hospital," Predy said.
He said people who suspect they have been infected should only get tested if they have underlying health conditions like asthma or a "serious manifestation of the disease," such as bronchitis or pneumonia.
Upon diagnosis, it is not necessary for people to inform those they have been seen or met with unless there has been close contact, Predy said, adding that decision is ultimately left with the patient.
Predy advises people to visit the Alberta Health and Wellness website at www.health.alberta.ca or call Alberta Health Link at 1-866-408-LINK for more information about the virus.
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2009/07/03/10012731-sun.html
