It would be the first of several visits overthe course of the next week. Each time,staff at the station would give Peter medicationto help bring down the fever, and eachtime the fever returned. As his conditiondeteriorated, the family became more concerned.“There was definitely a change ofattitude,” says Harper. “He was drowsy, notfeeling like doing anything.”Eventually, the boy was airlifted to the<strong>Winnipeg</strong> <strong>Health</strong> Region’s Children’sHospital, the primary pediatric treatmentcentre for Manitoba, northwest Ontario andNunavut. Upon arriving at the EmergencyDepartment, it was apparent that the boywas seriously ill. He was admitted to hospitaland quickly diagnosed with pneumonia,brought on by H1N1 influenza.With that, Peter Flett became one ofmore than 800 Manitobans who have beenofficially diagnosed with H1N1 influenzaso far this year in what has become one ofthe biggest public health emergencies inManitoba’s recent history.Initially identified as swine flu, the H1N1virus first started grabbing headlines inMarch when it was linked to the deaths ofmore than 150 people in Mexico. It quicklyspread right across North America, infectingthousands of people. By June, the viruswas circulating through parts of Europe andAsia, prompting the World <strong>Health</strong> Organizationto declare the outbreak a pandemic.In Manitoba, the first confirmed caseof H1N1 influenza surfaced on May 4 inBrandon, and by early June the virus wascirculating throughout the province. It isestimated that about five to 10 per cent ofManitoba’s population of about 1.2 millionpeople were infected by the virus duringthe outbreak. Manitoba is reporting 886 officiallyconfirmed cases of H1N1 influenzaand seven related deaths so far this year.First Nations people, especially those livingin remote communities, were among thehardest hit by H1N1 – accounting for abouta third of the cases.Most people exposed to the virus eithershowed no signs of being sick or were ableto recover on their own. But some Manitobansdid become extremely ill. Officialsestimate that about 70 people with H1N1virus ended up in one of the Region’s IntensiveCare Units, often on a ventilator, oftenfighting for their lives. Peter was one of31 children, mostly of aboriginal descent,who were treated for H1N1 influenza atChildren’s Hospital. Fortunately, he wasable to fight off the infection after one weekin the Intensive Care Unit. Many were notso lucky. Some children had to spend asmany as four weeks in intensive care, oftenhooked up to a ventilator because theycould not breathe on their own.As the number of H1N1 cases grew,Peter emerged as the human face of the influenzastory in Manitoba. His family spokepublicly about his experience with H1N1,and his photo appeared alongside manystories on the virus and its impact on FirstNations communities. With health officialswarning of a possible return of H1N1 in thecoming fall and winter influenza season,Peter’s story helps illustrate the unforgivingnature of the virus and the toll it can takeon individuals, families and communities.It also underscores the challenges facingpublic health officers and health-care providers,especially those working in ICUs,as they work to prevent the spread of thevirus and treat those who become infectedwith it.RNA in a baggieInfluenza, in one form or another, has alwaysbeen with us. Defined as an infectionof the respiratory tract, the word influenzais derived from influenza del freddo, whichis Italian for influence of the cold. Althoughthe origins of influenza are not well understood,it is believed the first human casesof the viral infection were recorded about2,400 years ago in ancient Greece by noneother than Hippocrates, considered bymany to be the father of medicine.Since then, there have been countlessinfluenza outbreaks in Europe and elsewhere.There have also been a number ofinfluenza pandemics. The first major oneoccurred in 1917-1918, when a strainknown as Spanish Flu spread around theglobe, killing an estimated 40 million to100 million people. There have been otherpandemics since: the Asian Flu Pandemicin 1957, caused by H2N2 strain, killedabout four million people worldwide, andthe Hong Kong flu pandemic in 1968,caused by H3N2, claimed about one millionlives around the world.In Canada, the influenza season is aspredictable as winter. Indeed, one strain ofinfluenza or another usually arrives withthe first snowfalls of winter and continuesto circulate around the country until spring.The vast majority of Canadians who becomeinfected with these “seasonal” strainsof influenza generally manage to sufferthrough with nothing more than a few daysof discomfort. While seasonal influenzacan cause death – about 4,000 people dieeach year – it is typically the elderly andfrail with underlying health conditionswho are most vulnerable. As a result, thegeneral public doesn’t pay much attentionto the risks associated with the virus, saysDr. John Embil, Director of the <strong>Winnipeg</strong><strong>Health</strong> Region’s Infection Prevention andControl Program. In fact, annual influenzaQ: What about protectingchildren?A: Children should take the sameprecautions as adults, includingwashing their hands regularly andcovering their nose and mouthwhen coughing. Young childrenmay need help with hand washing.To avoid the spread of germs,keep surfaces clean in areaswhere children play.Q: When should Iseek medical carefor my child?A: Older children withinfluenza-like symptomsshould stay home fromschool or daycare. Childrenless than five yearsof age with influenza-likesymptoms should seetheir health-careHow long can theH1N1 virus live?According to the Centres for DiseaseControl, the H1N1 virus cansurvive on environmental surfacestwo to eight hours. This means thatsomeone who touches a telephoneor a door knob that has been contaminatedby someone carrying thevirus can become infected.However, it is important to rememberthat the virus is most oftentransmitted to others by coughing.22 WAVE
Wondering whereto get yourinfluenza shotsthis fall?The <strong>Winnipeg</strong> <strong>Health</strong> Region will be stagingimmunization clinics this fall for seasonal andH1N1 influenza. For the latest information aboutwho should get immunized, as well as clinic timesand locations, please visit: www.wrha.mb.caor call <strong>Health</strong> Links - Info Santé at 204-788-8200,or toll free at 1-888-315-9257.<strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2009</strong> 23
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