Canada:13 Ottawa schools Swine flu suspected

Health officials believe new phase of virus will lead to faster spread

By Pauline Tam, The Ottawa CitizenJune 3, 2009

OTTAWA – Public health officials are investigating possible flu outbreaks at up to 13 Ottawa schools, which they believe could be caused by the new strain of the H1N1 flu virus.

Another three schools have reported unusually high numbers of absent students, prompting officials to suspect the virus may have spread there as well.

Because the risks of infection are particularly high among people who gather in large groups and in confined spaces, the school-based outbreaks, even before they are confirmed, have officials predicting the “swine flu” virus has moved into a new phase that will likely lead to faster spread and more cases being reported over the summer.

“With influenza, you pretty much know you’re not going to be able to contain it,” said Dr. Isra Levy, Ottawa’s chief medical officer of health.

snip

Most cases of the H1N1 virus reported in Ottawa have shared nearly identical symptoms with more common strains of flu, making them virtually indistinguishable without laboratory testing, said Levy.

While a majority of the cases have been described as “mild,” some of the diagnosed children have had “severe symptoms,” including high fever, intense difficulty breathing and extreme dehydration.

full article

Health officials believe new phase of virus will lead to faster spread

By Pauline Tam, The Ottawa CitizenJune 3, 2009

OTTAWA – Public health officials are investigating possible flu outbreaks at up to 13 Ottawa schools, which they believe could be caused by the new strain of the H1N1 flu virus.

Another three schools have reported unusually high numbers of absent students, prompting officials to suspect the virus may have spread there as well.

Because the risks of infection are particularly high among people who gather in large groups and in confined spaces, the school-based outbreaks, even before they are confirmed, have officials predicting the “swine flu” virus has moved into a new phase that will likely lead to faster spread and more cases being reported over the summer.

“With influenza, you pretty much know you’re not going to be able to contain it,” said Dr. Isra Levy, Ottawa’s chief medical officer of health.

snip

Most cases of the H1N1 virus reported in Ottawa have shared nearly identical symptoms with more common strains of flu, making them virtually indistinguishable without laboratory testing, said Levy.

While a majority of the cases have been described as “mild,” some of the diagnosed children have had “severe symptoms,” including high fever, intense difficulty breathing and extreme dehydration.

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