Swine flu cases in Manitoba jump to 78, with 22 reported Thursday

Manitoba health officials confirmed 22 new cases of swine flu on Thursday, raising the total to 78.

In the past 24 hours, there has also been one additional patient admitted to an intensive-care unit in Manitoba, officials said. And the province's chief medical officer of health, Dr. Joel Kettner, said all Manitobans should now consider themselves at risk of getting swine flu.

He added, however: "The vast majority of Manitobans that have been exposed to this virus have had much less severe and serious illness. and most of them have not required medical care or hospital care."

There was no information provided by the province on the ages, gender or residences of the people confirmed to have the latest cases.

However, David McDougal, chief of St. Theresa Point First Nation, said five of those new cases are people from his community, which now has a total of nine residents with swine flu, also known as H1N1 influenza A virus.

Communities face being stigmatized: province

The government's protocol has been to not reveal which communities have confirmed cases, for fear it will stigmatize them.

Last week, a number of residents who were in the city from St. Theresa Point First Nation were asked to leave the downtown hotel where they were staying.

That community has been hit particularly hard by swine flu, with 200 people having fallen ill. Most were being treated for mild conditions in the community, but 27 have been sent to hospital in Winnipeg with severe symptoms over the past two weeks.

All Manitobans are at risk for exposure to the virus, but the possibility of severe illness has been highest for aboriginal people and others with pre-existing health and living conditions, a release from the province said on Thursday.

No reason to close public gathering places

Although some First Nations communities have closed schools and daycares and banned public gatherings, there has been no public health reason to do so in Winnipeg, according to the release. Nor has there been any reason to shut down community centres or other public gathering places or to avoid travel to any community, it said.

"There is also no public health reason to exclude people from any public setting based on their ethnic background or home community. The same basic precautions are still the best defence against H1N1 influenza, no matter where you are or who you are with," the release said.

Manitoba Health and Healthy Living officials stated they would be working with regional health authorities to conduct on-site assessments in First Nations communities to ensure all requirements are being met to deal with the outbreak.

The release stated the provincial government has already distributed surgical masks, respirators and anti-virals to meet the needs of First Nations peoples in Manitoba.

However, David Harper, chief of the Garden Hill First Nation, said Wednesday that his community requested anti-viral drugs, gloves, masks and sanitization equipment from the province a month ago, and nothing has been delivered. Two cases of swine flu have also been confirmed in the community, near St. Theresa Point.

Exposure increases immunity, says expert

Dr. Ethan Rubinstein, head of Infectious diseases with the faculty of medicine at the University of Manitoba, said part of the reason for the high number of swine flu cases in the remote First Nations areas is that their isolation means people aren't exposed to as many viruses as those who live in cities.

He said the illness won't likely taper off in places like St. Theresa Point and Garden Hill until everyone has been exposed and developed their own antibodies.

Rubinstein says the World Health Organization's declaration on Thursday of a full global pandemic is likely to help Manitoba communities struggling with the virus.

"It will ease the distribution of anti-virals and those will be distributed with less-precise diagnosis, although diagnosis will still be required," he said. "And this is where the stockpiles actually go into action. That was dependent on the declaration."

Rubinstein said the WHO declaration will also mean people don't have to pay for the anti-viral drugs.

Anyone who has symptoms of flu-like illness, such as fever, cough, aches and tiredness, is most contagious for three to four days, but it is possible to spread the disease for up to a week once the symptoms start to appear, provincial health officials said.

They advise anyone exhibiting symptoms to:

• Stay home from school or work while you are ill and limit unnecessary contact with others.
• Contact your health-care provider or visit your nearest health-care centre if you are concerned that you need advice or care, or especially if your symptoms are severe or worsening (i.e. shortness of breath, dehydration, worsening fever, cough or weakness).

Manitobans should continue to take the following precautions:

• Cover a cough or sneeze by coughing or sneezing into your elbow or sleeve or using a tissue to cover your nose and mouth.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.  Hand sanitizers are also effective.
• Limit touching of your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Take steps to maintain your health by taking care of yourself and those in your care including eating a healthy, balanced diet, avoiding cigarette smoke and other harmful substances, being active and getting enough rest and sleep.

Anyone seeking advice or care can call Health Links at 204-788-8200 or 1-888-315-9257.