2009 flu pandemic in Canada
Encyclopedia
The 2009 flu pandemic in Canada is part of an epidemic
in 2009 of a new strain of influenza A virus subtype H1N1 causing what has been commonly called swine flu. In Canada, roughly 10% of the populace (or 3.5 million) has been infected with the virus, with 428 confirmed deaths (as of February 20, 2010); non-fatal individual cases are for the most part no longer being recorded. About 40% of Canadians have been immunized against H1N1
since a national vaccination campaign began in October, with Canada among the countries in the world leading in the percentage of the population that has been vaccinated. The widespread effect of H1N1 in Canada has raised concerns during the months leading to the XXI Olympic Winter Games
, which took place in Vancouver
on February 2010.
.
On May 2, 2009, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
executive vice-president Brian Evans announced that an infected Alberta farm worker recently returned from Mexico had apparently passed the virus to a swine herd in his care. Although the herd had been quarantined, Evans stressed that the infection represented no threat to food safety and judged the possibility of infected pigs passing the virus back to humans "remote". Evans said the infection of the herd was the first known case of the H1N1 virus being transmitted from humans to pigs. Transmission from the same herd of pigs back to humans was revealed on 20 July, though it occurred on 7 May when the humans, health inspectors, were taking samples from the infected herd with improper self-protective measures.
On May 8, health officials in Alberta confirmed that swine flu contributed to the death of a woman in Northern Alberta on April 28, Canada's first death associated with the illness.
As of August 14, 2009, there were 1,648 confirmed cases of swine flu in Alberta
. Health and Wellness Alberta stopped reporting non-hospitalized cases on August 21.
The initial cases in British Columbia
involved two young men aged 25–35 from the B.C. Lower Mainland
who had recently come back from Mexico, according to Danuta Skowronski, head of flu and respiratory illnesses at the BC Centre for Disease Control, run by the provincial government. The cases were discovered by normal flu testing conducted by the disease control centre after the men had visited a doctor about flu-like symptoms. She noted the disease seemed "widespread" in Mexico and should not be mistaken by tourists to be linked only with urban Mexico City. The first fatality in British Columbia caused by the H1N1 virus occurred on July 14, and was a young child who died within 24 hours of being rushed to the hospital. There were concerns of H1N1 during the months leading up to the 2010 Winter Olympics
that occurred in Vancouver
on February 2010, as a result volunteers were required to be vaccinated.
On January 28, the chief health officer, Perry Kendall, stated that he felt the chances of a third wave of H1N1
were "diminishing". However, he maintained that vaccinations continued to be recommended for all and are vital for reducing the risk of another wave of H1N1
.
On May 3, the first case in Manitoba
was confirmed in the Brandon
area. The second case in Manitoba was announced on May 12. The second case, a Winnipeg woman in her 50s was admitted to hospital, although the province noted she also has an unidentified underlying medical condition.
On June 13, Newfoundland and Labrador reported their first case of swine flu, becoming the final province to do so. The case involves a sample collected from a young man who was treated Thursday June 11 at the hospital in Grand Falls-Windsor
.
The first recorded death of a person with swine flu was recorded on November 1, 2009, when a 36 year old woman died from the virus.
was confirmed to be present in Greater Moncton on May 1, 2009.
By August 28, there had been 147 confirmed cases in New Brunswick. New cases are no longer being reported. The first deaths occurred November 13.
First cases: Nova Scotia
's chief medical officer, Dr. Robert Strang, said on April 26 that the National Microbiology Laboratory
in Winnipeg
confirmed late the previous day that four people in the province between the ages of 12 and 18 were recovering from "relatively mild" cases of the disease. The four people were students attending King's-Edgehill School
preparatory school in Windsor, Nova Scotia
. One of the infected students had been on a recent school trip to the Yucatán Peninsula
in southern Mexico.
On April 27, 2009, four cases were suspected to be swine flu in Ontario
. This number grew to ten cases in five days. On May 25, Ontario Health Minister David Caplan confirmed that a Toronto man in his 40s had died of the virus.
The Toronto region had been a secondary epicentre during the 2003 SARS epidemic
, and have been taking extra precautions against the H1N1 virus in the early stages of the pandemic.
Ontario is also home to what is believed to be the youngest Canadian death from swine flu. A two month old baby was admitted to the London Health Sciences Centre on November 2, 2009; the boy died in the early morning two days later. This death, is one of three recently reported in London, Ontario, and has brought the number of confirmed deaths from H1N1 since April in Ontario to 95 as of November 26, 2009.
Ontario updates its H1N1 cases Thursdays here.
Prince Edward Island
confirmed its first two cases in Charlottetown
on May 4, 2009.
While early cases in Melrose
and Quebec
turned out not to be swine flu, on April 30, 2009, the first case in the province was confirmed in the Greater Montreal Area
.
The first case of death was announced on June 8, making the total of 4 deaths for Canada. The person was a more than 65-year-old woman suffering from respiratory diseases before being hospitalized on June 2. According to medical expertise, she had never traveled to Mexico and had no contact with those who did.
Confirmed cases totalled 10,714 between August 30 and December 4, 2009.
and Regina
areas.
The province stopped counting individual cases as of July 23, 2009. At that point there were 888 confirmed cases.
1em auto 1em auto"
Epidemic
In epidemiology, an epidemic , occurs when new cases of a certain disease, in a given human population, and during a given period, substantially exceed what is expected based on recent experience...
in 2009 of a new strain of influenza A virus subtype H1N1 causing what has been commonly called swine flu. In Canada, roughly 10% of the populace (or 3.5 million) has been infected with the virus, with 428 confirmed deaths (as of February 20, 2010); non-fatal individual cases are for the most part no longer being recorded. About 40% of Canadians have been immunized against H1N1
2009 flu pandemic vaccine
The 2009 flu pandemic vaccines are the set of influenza vaccines that have been developed to protect against the pandemic H1N1/09 virus. These vaccines either contain inactivated influenza virus, or weakened live virus that cannot cause influenza. The killed vaccine is injected, while the live...
since a national vaccination campaign began in October, with Canada among the countries in the world leading in the percentage of the population that has been vaccinated. The widespread effect of H1N1 in Canada has raised concerns during the months leading to the XXI Olympic Winter Games
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
, which took place in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
on February 2010.
Alberta
As of April 9, 2010, there were 1,278 confirmed hospitalized cases in AlbertaAlberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
.
On May 2, 2009, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is a science based regulatory agency that is dedicated to the safeguarding of food, animals, and plants, which enhance the health and well-being of Canada's people, environment and economy...
executive vice-president Brian Evans announced that an infected Alberta farm worker recently returned from Mexico had apparently passed the virus to a swine herd in his care. Although the herd had been quarantined, Evans stressed that the infection represented no threat to food safety and judged the possibility of infected pigs passing the virus back to humans "remote". Evans said the infection of the herd was the first known case of the H1N1 virus being transmitted from humans to pigs. Transmission from the same herd of pigs back to humans was revealed on 20 July, though it occurred on 7 May when the humans, health inspectors, were taking samples from the infected herd with improper self-protective measures.
On May 8, health officials in Alberta confirmed that swine flu contributed to the death of a woman in Northern Alberta on April 28, Canada's first death associated with the illness.
As of August 14, 2009, there were 1,648 confirmed cases of swine flu in Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
. Health and Wellness Alberta stopped reporting non-hospitalized cases on August 21.
British Columbia
The B.C. government has reported 1,059 severe flu cases as of February 2, 2010. 49 of 56 fatalities were people with underlying medical conditions. The province is no longer reporting non-severe cases (Total cases reached 676 by August 10).The initial cases in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
involved two young men aged 25–35 from the B.C. Lower Mainland
Lower Mainland
The Lower Mainland is a name commonly applied to the region surrounding and including Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. As of 2007, 2,524,113 people live in the region; sixteen of the province's thirty most populous municipalities are located there.While the term Lower Mainland has been...
who had recently come back from Mexico, according to Danuta Skowronski, head of flu and respiratory illnesses at the BC Centre for Disease Control, run by the provincial government. The cases were discovered by normal flu testing conducted by the disease control centre after the men had visited a doctor about flu-like symptoms. She noted the disease seemed "widespread" in Mexico and should not be mistaken by tourists to be linked only with urban Mexico City. The first fatality in British Columbia caused by the H1N1 virus occurred on July 14, and was a young child who died within 24 hours of being rushed to the hospital. There were concerns of H1N1 during the months leading up to the 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
that occurred in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
on February 2010, as a result volunteers were required to be vaccinated.
On January 28, the chief health officer, Perry Kendall, stated that he felt the chances of a third wave of H1N1
H1N1
'Influenza A virus is a subtype of influenza A virus and was the most common cause of human influenza in 2009. Some strains of H1N1 are endemic in humans and cause a small fraction of all influenza-like illness and a small fraction of all seasonal influenza. H1N1 strains caused a few percent of...
were "diminishing". However, he maintained that vaccinations continued to be recommended for all and are vital for reducing the risk of another wave of H1N1
H1N1
'Influenza A virus is a subtype of influenza A virus and was the most common cause of human influenza in 2009. Some strains of H1N1 are endemic in humans and cause a small fraction of all influenza-like illness and a small fraction of all seasonal influenza. H1N1 strains caused a few percent of...
.
Manitoba
As of October 5, 2009, there were 892 confirmed cases in the province, with 7 deaths associated with the H1N1 virus. As of February 1, 2010, there had been 1,774 new confirmed cases, with 4 deaths since the start of the "second wave" October 6.On May 3, the first case in Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
was confirmed in the Brandon
Brandon, Manitoba
Brandon is the second largest city in Manitoba, Canada, and is located in the southwestern area of the province. Brandon is the largest city in the Westman region of Manitoba. The city is located along the Assiniboine River. Spruce Woods Provincial Park and CFB Shilo are a relatively short distance...
area. The second case in Manitoba was announced on May 12. The second case, a Winnipeg woman in her 50s was admitted to hospital, although the province noted she also has an unidentified underlying medical condition.
Newfoundland and Labrador
As of January 4, 2010, there were 267 hospitalized cases in the province.On June 13, Newfoundland and Labrador reported their first case of swine flu, becoming the final province to do so. The case involves a sample collected from a young man who was treated Thursday June 11 at the hospital in Grand Falls-Windsor
Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland and Labrador
Grand Falls-Windsor is a town of 13,558 people located in the central region of the island of Newfoundland in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The town is the largest in the central region, the fifth largest in the province, and is home to the annual Exploits Valley Salmon Festival...
.
The first recorded death of a person with swine flu was recorded on November 1, 2009, when a 36 year old woman died from the virus.
New Brunswick
The first case in New BrunswickNew Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
was confirmed to be present in Greater Moncton on May 1, 2009.
By August 28, there had been 147 confirmed cases in New Brunswick. New cases are no longer being reported. The first deaths occurred November 13.
Northwest Territories
On June 1, the Northwest Territories confirmed their first case of swine flu. The first death occurred in November.Nova Scotia
From the beginning of the 2009-10 flu season in September until December 2, there were 739 confirmed cases, including 255 hospitalizations.First cases: Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
's chief medical officer, Dr. Robert Strang, said on April 26 that the National Microbiology Laboratory
National Microbiology Laboratory
The National Microbiology Laboratory is a division of the Public Health Agency of Canada that is located in the Canadian Science Centre for Human and Animal Health in Winnipeg, Manitoba. This modern state-of-the-art facility houses the NML's Biological Safety Level 4 containment laboratory,...
in Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
confirmed late the previous day that four people in the province between the ages of 12 and 18 were recovering from "relatively mild" cases of the disease. The four people were students attending King's-Edgehill School
King's-Edgehill School
King's-Edgehill School is a Canadian independent University Preparatory boarding and day School located in the town of Windsor, Nova Scotia.-History:...
preparatory school in Windsor, Nova Scotia
Windsor, Nova Scotia
Windsor is a town located in Hants County, Mainland Nova Scotia at the junction of the Avon and St. Croix Rivers. It is the largest community in western Hants County with a 2001 population of 3,779 and was at one time the shire town of the county. The region encompassing present day Windsor was...
. One of the infected students had been on a recent school trip to the Yucatán Peninsula
Yucatán Peninsula
The Yucatán Peninsula, in southeastern Mexico, separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico, with the northern coastline on the Yucatán Channel...
in southern Mexico.
Nunavut
On July 16, 2009, Nunavut reported its first swine flu death. As of August 5, there were 496 confirmed cases of the swine flu.Ontario
There were 8,633 confirmed cases in Ontario, with 1,725 hospitalizations as of December 10.On April 27, 2009, four cases were suspected to be swine flu in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. This number grew to ten cases in five days. On May 25, Ontario Health Minister David Caplan confirmed that a Toronto man in his 40s had died of the virus.
The Toronto region had been a secondary epicentre during the 2003 SARS epidemic
Severe acute respiratory syndrome
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome is a respiratory disease in humans which is caused by the SARS coronavirus . Between November 2002 and July 2003 an outbreak of SARS in Hong Kong nearly became a pandemic, with 8,422 cases and 916 deaths worldwide according to the WHO...
, and have been taking extra precautions against the H1N1 virus in the early stages of the pandemic.
Ontario is also home to what is believed to be the youngest Canadian death from swine flu. A two month old baby was admitted to the London Health Sciences Centre on November 2, 2009; the boy died in the early morning two days later. This death, is one of three recently reported in London, Ontario, and has brought the number of confirmed deaths from H1N1 since April in Ontario to 95 as of November 26, 2009.
Ontario updates its H1N1 cases Thursdays here.
Prince Edward Island
As of December 8, 2009, there were 50 hospitalizations in the province, and no deaths.Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
confirmed its first two cases in Charlottetown
Charlottetown
Charlottetown is a Canadian city. It is both the largest city on and the provincial capital of Prince Edward Island, and the county seat of Queens County. Named after Queen Charlotte, the wife of George III, Charlottetown was first incorporated as a town in 1855 and designated as a city in 1885...
on May 4, 2009.
Quebec
There had been 2,422 hospitalized cases as of December 4, 2009.While early cases in Melrose
Melrose
-Scotland:* Melrose, Scotland , a town in the Scottish Borders** Melrose Abbey, ruined monastery** Melrose RFC, rugby club** Melrose Golf Club-Australia:* Melrose, South Australia, a town in the southern Flinders Ranges...
and Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
turned out not to be swine flu, on April 30, 2009, the first case in the province was confirmed in the Greater Montreal Area
Greater Montreal Area
Greater Montreal is one of the two metropolitan communities of Quebec.Greater Montreal is the most populous metropolitan area in Québec. As of 2009, Statistics Canada identifies Montréal's Census Metropolitan Area as Canada's second most populous with a population of 3,859,318...
.
The first case of death was announced on June 8, making the total of 4 deaths for Canada. The person was a more than 65-year-old woman suffering from respiratory diseases before being hospitalized on June 2. According to medical expertise, she had never traveled to Mexico and had no contact with those who did.
Confirmed cases totalled 10,714 between August 30 and December 4, 2009.
Saskatchewan
The first cases were confirmed on May 7 in the SaskatoonSaskatoon
Saskatoon is a city in central Saskatchewan, Canada, on the South Saskatchewan River. Residents of the city of Saskatoon are called Saskatonians. The city is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Corman Park No. 344....
and Regina
Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina is the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province and a cultural and commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. It is governed by Regina City Council. Regina is the cathedral city of the Roman Catholic and Romanian Orthodox...
areas.
The province stopped counting individual cases as of July 23, 2009. At that point there were 888 confirmed cases.
