Swine flu
- April 27, 2009 10:15 AM |
- By Your Voice
Medical authorities in Ontario are investigating a number of cases of suspected swine flu that has caused more than 100 deaths in Mexico and spread to at least two other Canadian provinces, the United States and Europe.
Over the weekend, Canadian health officials confirmed six "relatively mild" cases of human swine influenza in British Columbia and Nova Scotia, but also warned more cases are likely in the near future.
What is swine flu? What precautions can you take to protect you and your family?
Dr. Donald Low, medical director of Ontario's public health laboratories and chief microbiologist at Toronto's Mount Sinai Hospital, joins us this week to take your questions on swine flu.
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Comments (40)
Would getting the flu shot now help protect against the this flu?
I purchased Tamiflu online some time ago. Since then Canada has stockpiled millions of doses. If a pandemic strikes, what are my family's chances of receiving Tamiflu from those stockpiles, or should I keep the stuff I purchased - just in case?
many of us at work have flu-like symptoms today. This Swine flu outbreak coincided with the first summer-like weekend here in Montreal, which sent everyone out in the streets without the usual winter gear (coats and scarves) even though it was not completely summer yet. Of course, this can be a very good reason for people to get sick..
If you go to a family doctor to ask, they will most probably shrug this off as a coincidence (those doctors being over-worked and short on staff).. so how worried should we be? should we wait a few days to make sure it is not the regular flu? or shall we go see the doctor immediately ?
I think that what is confusing a lot of people is the fact that we have all of these cases in the US and the handfull in Canada where symptoms are "relatively mild" and no deaths have been reported. Clearly the 100 deaths in Mexico are alarming, but if there are so many cases with "relatively mild" symptoms then why are authorities and the media so alarmed? I have talked to several people who share this same view and we don't seem to be getting any answers in the media. Isn't this something that could pass with many many cases of "relatively mild" symptoms? What is the estimated ratio of cases with will "mild symptoms" and cases that are potentially fatal? Last I heard, Mexico had 1000 people catch the virus and 100 dead so that suggest a 10% mortality rate however of all the cases in Canada and the US there have been no deaths. Please clarify where the points of concern really lay because many of us are wondering what all the fuss is about. Thank you.
I am wondering what the root causes of the swine flu are. Is it related to the conditions in which pigs are being raised, and our reliance on industrial meat production?
My wife has a business trip to Mexico DF scheduled for May 14th. Should she still continue with the plan of traveling or should she cancell?
What are the symptoms of the swine flu?
I am wondering if this particular flu virus can be worse or cause more problems for those who have asthma or other respiratory issues? Should those individuals seek medical attention or take any extra precautions?
Thank you.
My son's school is expecting a visit from their sister school in Mexico in a few weeks.
I am hoping the visit gets canceled or postponed. If it doesn't what suggestions do you have for parents who have children at that school?
My son is 4 years old (in preschool) and I also have a 2 year old at home. While we try to get him to wash his hands whenever he uses the washroom and before he eats, he sometimes "forgets". None of us has had the flu vaccine.
Is swine flu worse than the regular "winter flu?"
New strains of influenza pop up quite frequently and regular seasonal influenza kills thousands every year. We are all on a hair-trigger level of alert for a possible pandemic strain of influenza, probably because we have put so much time, money, and effort into pandemic planning. But ILI is notoriously under-reported in the developed world, and it is probably even less commonly tested for in Mexico. As a consequence, the case-fatality ratio is probably highly exaggerated. Is anyone considering a sero-survey or other prevalence-type study from a general population sample to estimate the actual extent of this new virus? Also, surely someone must be trying to isolate risk factors associated with the severe cases?
And finally, on a somewhat unrelated note, what exactly are cases dying of? I would think that younger, otherwise healthy people that are dying of "influenza" would be dying of something like ARDS.
I am flying to london england on Wednesday 29th.April, what precautions if any should I take.
My daughter is getting married in Playa del Carmen in Mexico on June 5th.Im not sure if there has been reports of swine flu there?Its still a month before we go.Should we be concerned and perhaps postponing the wedding??
Thanks
Gary Mitchell
As a teacher I have opted for the annual flu shot every year since 2001. According to my research this means I have been exposed to at least 27 flu viruses (9 years x 3 flu strains a year). Is there any evidence to suggest that the more flu exposure a person has the less severe their response will be to a new strain?
Why is the virus killing people in Mexico and only causing mild illness in Canada?
Why is very important to have the flu shot if it does not vacinate against Swine Flu?
My family visited Mexico (coastal vacation area not Mexico City) earlier this month, what is the time period over which we should be concerned if we develop cold/flu-like symptoms? How long after the trip do we have to "be on alert"? Thank you.
I am traveling to Cuba as part of a group on an educational trip, leaving on May 3. What precautions should we take?
Thanks.
Are people infected through normal transmission, like hand to hand contact, and infected surfaces, or is this an airborne infection. If airborne at what range is safe without the need for a mask?
If I go to my doctor with flu symptoms, what check will they do to find out if I have the "swine flu"? And what will happen next in terms of treatment?
I am 76 with chf.I am booked to take a short 5 day cruise in may..Should I ?.
Is there medication/treatment I can get for swine flu? How much does it cost? Will it be rationed across North America (ie does Canada have enough)?
When does this flu become deadly -- ie I may have flu symptoms but at what point do my symptoms turn deadly and I should seek immediate medical attention?
1. does this year's flu shot add any protection?
2, my father is in a retirement home. He has been recovering from 2 lung surgeries and has only one lung. Otherwise he is OK. If it was your father would you bring him into your home for the next few weeks/months?
Why is this being so blown out of proportion? Are the deaths in Mexico at attributed to their lower living conditions? Because that seems logical to me. It's just the flu, why are people so panicked?
A friend came home from Cancun and was very sick for several weeks
Should she be tested and can
she have spread it to her family and others? Should I be tested?
For the many of us working in concentrated, high-traffic environments with many different people, such as airports, Universities, or places that attract tourists and travelers, what can we do to lessen our likelihood of contracting swine flu?
After hearing about the Outbreak, im quite worried about what will happen.
I have 2 questions:
When Will Vaccines be made and delivered to countries such as mine?
And my last one would be that what can i do to prevent the chances of catching it and spreading it around?
Thanks for your time
Have M.S. should I be concerned? Receive flu shot every year. Am 55 yrs old.
will health canada be offering a vaccine for this in time for the 2009/2010 flu season?
How long does the virus survive on objects...door handles etc? Should we be concerned with items imported from Mexico, and for how long?
Do we know yet why people are dying in Mexico and why we are only seeing mild cases else where?
My husband and I are flying to Ireland next wee. Would it be advisible to wear face masks.
Thank you.
Do proper handwashing procedures require the use of *hot* water or not?
Apparently, the CDC in the states has recommended the use of a respirator(mask)by members of the public as a precautionary meassure.
Has the nature of transmission been determined yet? If spread airborne, what would be the recommended type/specification/designation of an effective respirator mask and where would they likely be available? Thank you.
I haven't been to Mexico, but have recently returned from the Dominican. I am a dental assistant that has certainly seen patients that have vacationed in Mexico during the last 3 wks. I have developed a cough, with expectorant,a sore throat,sinusitis with tooth pain and pressure, headaches, slight fever, and diarrhea the last 5 days. Should I be worried?
Dr. David Butler-Jones was quoted in The Toronto Star as saying that the flu vaccine was one way that we could protect ourselves from the swine flu.
I was told by the local Public Health Office that H1N1 is not covered by the currently available flu shot. Is their any advantage to getting a flu shot now, and if so, should we get it in addition to the flu shot we received last November?
According to the swine flu FAQ regarding: How does swine flu spread?
"Is mainly person-to-person transmission through coughing or sneezing of people infected with the flu virus"
Question: when your walking or in a bus/plane and someone may or may not be infected who then coughs or sneeze without covering their mouths, with me being beside them, what sort of procaution should I take? Such as: stop breathing? That is usually what I'll do when I have no where to run when I'm on a bus or plane.
No one has died of the swine flu outside of Mexico and the authorities have said that victims of the flu in Europe and Canada/US have almost all made full recovery.
Are they making this recovery with the help of retroviral medication or are they recovering from this strain of flu largely unassisted?
My family and I are headed to Mexico in 2 weeks. Should we consider Tamiflu as a precautionary measure?
Traveling with 2 people in their sixties 2 in their thirties and 2 kids age 4 and 2. Going to west coast of Mexico