Peggy Revell
With officials around the world on alert as the number of swine influenza cases grows, district health care providers also are taking precautionary measures to prevent a local outbreak.
Originating in Mexico, the swine ‘flu virus is different from seasonal ones and until recently only was transmitted among pigs, explained Dr. James Arthurs, the Northwestern Health Unit’s medical officer of health.
“Now there’s been a change in the virus so that it can transmit from human to human, and that’s the concern,” he noted.
“That doesn’t make it more serious [than the normal seasonal ’flu], that doesn’t make it deadly, nor does it make it spread anymore rapidly,” he added. “It’s just that it can spread from human to human.
“So that’s the concern, and why we have to be more alert and aware.”
As of yesterday afternoon, there were four confirmed cases of swine ’flu in Ontario—three in Durham region and one in York region near Toronto.
All of those cases involved travel to Mexico, Dr. Arthurs noted, and all have been labelled as “mild,” with the patients not being hospitalized and now recovering at home.
Other confirmed cases have been reported in British Columbia, Alberta, and Nova Scotia, as well as in several other countries.
While there’s no evidence that swine ’flu is present locally, the Fort Frances Community Clinic already has taken precautionary measures to make sure both patients and staff are being protected, said clinic administrator Marlis Bruyere.
“We’re following Ministry of Health guidelines with regards to screening patients as they come, anyone who comes through the door,” she noted.
All those entering the clinic are being asked to sanitize their hands with the disinfectant at the front door, Bruyere said. As well, the clinic is asking that if people have any ’flu-like symptoms, such as coughing or sneezing, to put on one of the masks available as a precautionary measure.
If a person does have ’flu-like symptoms, nurse practitioners in the exam room will be asking questions concerning their symptoms, if they’ve recently been to Mexico or in contact with someone who was, and take their temperature.
“So if they’re saying ‘no’ to all these things, then there’s no problem,” Bruyere remarked. “But if there was all the evidence pointing towards it—they’ve been to Mexico, they’ve shown ’flu-like symptoms—then there’s a blood test that can be done . . . and they would know within a short time whether this is the swine ’flu or not.”
These standards are very similar to the ones the ministry had the local clinic follow when the SARS outbreak occurred a few years ago, Bruyere noted, but altogether they’re precautions that are “just some good common sense standards.”
Meanwhile, Riverside Health Care Facilities, Inc. also has implemented similar precautionary measures at La Verendrye Hospital and Rainycrest Long-Term Care here, as well as at its health centres in Emo and Rainy River.
Before proceeding to reception for a required check-in, visitors now are being asked to stop at the information desk to self-screen. There they can wash their hands, as well and put on a mask if they are experiencing a new/worse cough or shortness of breath.
If also feeling feverish, patients are being asked to inform the receptionist or nurse right away.
Riverside also is requesting that people experiencing ’flu-like symptoms to not visit, and asks that if a patient is reporting to emergency, they are not accompanied unless with a minor or someone requiring assistance.
People should be following good infection prevention and control practice that they normally would anyway, Bruyere stressed, such as frequent hand-washing, proper cough etiquette, minimizing contact with people who are sick and checking in with their health-care provider if they are feeling sick.
“[All these procedures] are just a precautionary,” noted Bruyere. “And it’s probably a good thing to do during ’flu season anyways, have people wash their hands when they come in and if they are coughing they should be putting on a mask, etc. etc.
“[Swine flue] is nothing to panic over, but it is good to take some precautions and protect yourself,” she remarked.
Meanwhile, Dr. Arthurs said daily teleconferences have been scheduled with the Ministry of Health to keep each health unit updated about what’s going on across the province and Canada.
The health minister also will be giving daily press conferences to keep the public informed.
Dr. Arthurs also has already met with various leaders from local hospitals, medical groups, and the infectious control at hospitals to ensure organizations are “on the same page” and taking the same procedures.
As well, Dr. Arthurs said he’s currently setting up what will be the area’s own “daily influenza update” for municipalities, city councils, school boards, and the media to get the same information “pretty much at the same time.”
