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Friday, June 12, 2009

Influenza Q & A

Globe and Mail, June 12, 2009 - “The flu and Canada -The WHO declared that there is a pandemic. That implies things are much worse. What does the move to phase 6 mean to me as an individual? Is the risk greater today than yesterday? For a Canadian, the risk posed by pandemic influenza A/H1N1 (also known as swine flu) is exactly the same today as yesterday – and that risk is pretty minimal. The pandemic alert phases refer strictly to geographic spread of the flu. Influenza started spreading slowly in North America in March. Now it is making its way around the world. Australia is currently seeing the rapid spread of flu – and related panic – that we saw in Canada a month ago. Practically, the move to phase 6 means nothing to Canadians. We have been in pandemic mode for a number of weeks. As David Butler-Jones, Canada’s chief public health officer, has said repeatedly: The real worry for Canada is what will happen in the fall, when flu season returns to the northern hemisphere. The fear is that A/H1N1 could return with a vengeance then. How long will phase 6 last? In other words, when will the pandemic be over?” Read More.

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