Camosun College

H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) updates

November 13, 2009

Following direction from the Provincial Health Officer, the Vancouver Island Health Authority has now expanded the eligibility criteria for those who can get the H1N1 vaccine.

The expanded groups are:

These expanded groups join these previously eligible groups:

Children in Grade 8 and under (age 13) will require a parent to accompany them to the clinic to provide consent before the child can receive their vaccination. Generally, children over the age of 13 do not require parental consent, but public health nurses may make case by case decisions on whether to provide the vaccine depending on circumstances, maturity of the child and their ability to provide informed consent without coercion.

Detailed eligibility criteria...

VIHA immunization schedules...(pdf)
Please check this schedule for regular updates as VIHA is in the process of updating the schedule to increase the number of weekend and evening clinics for the school-aged cohort.

October 29, 2009

Beginning the week of October 26, the Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA) has scheduled h1n1 influenza immunization clinics throughout the region, beginning with people in high risk groups (those under 65 with chronic health conditions, pregnant women and people who live in rural and isolated settings and communities including all First Nations people living on reserve).

In the first week of November, the following groups will be eligible for the vaccine:

By mid-November, the vaccine should be available to the general population.

Clinic schedule

The clinic schedule for Victoria, Esquimalt, Saanich and Sooke through to December 31 is as follows:

Victoria

Hillside Centre—By hourly appointments. Phone 250–595–7154 for ticket information or visit Customer Services by food court.

Esquimalt

Saanich

Sooke

VIHA immunization schedules...(pdf).

September 16, 2009

As you know, the College first formed an H1N1 response team in April of this year when H1N1 was first reported in humans.  The team, chaired by Denis Powers, is now meeting on a weekly basis to develop plans for, communicate and coordinate our response to the potential for the H1N1 flu’s appearance at the College, in close cooperation with and guided by public health agencies such as the Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA).  A special website has been created and is being updated regularly, linked from our Camosun website, our Intranet, and from CamLink.  The site also provides links to other helpful sites with flu-related information. 

The team is working on a number of fronts including:

News media have reported significant incidence of H1N1 flu at Washington State University, one suspected case at SFU last week and one confirmed case in a Grade 12 student at St. George's School, an independent and boarding school for boys in Vancouver's West Side.  We have received a report of one suspected case but the student, who had yet to attend their first classes, followed HealthLink's directive and remained at home.

The individual hand sanitizers available for each staff member mentioned above can be picked up at the Library on either campus.  We have purchased sufficient supplies to be able to give one to each staff member but once supplies run out, additional ones will need to be purchased at your own expense at a local drugstore or other location.

We will be continuing to keep you informed through CamNews and updating the website regularly.  Please let me or any of the Response Team members know if you have any other questions. 

Thank you.

Denis Powers

May 21, 2009

As you are aware, an outbreak of swine influenza (“flu”) in Mexico has sickened hundreds of people there, affecting mainly young healthy adults. Fatalities in Mexico have been attributed to a virus (H1N1), which spread quickly from person to person within the Mexican population.

What is the Swine Flu?

The Swine Flu is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs. Like all influenza viruses, swine flu viruses change constantly. Pigs can be infected by avian influenza and human influenza viruses as well. When influenza viruses from different species infect pigs, new viruses can emerge that are a mix of swine, human and/or avian influenza viruses and most of the recently isolated flu viruses from pigs have been H1N1 viruses. (Public Health Agency of Canada )

As of May 20, 2009, the British Columbia Ministry of Health Services reports that there have been a total of 114 cases of H1N1 diagnosed in British Columbia (BC), including a total of 15 cases on Vancouver Island. Across Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada reports that 719 cases have been reported as of May 20, 2009, of which only 16 cases (2.2%) have required hospitalization. In Canada, one death has been attributed to the virus.

The number of reported confirmed cases of H1N1 Flu Virus in Mexico steadily increased until the end of April at which time it began to decrease and then level off over the past few weeks at a lower level. Given that the latest information from Mexico indicates the risk of contracting the virus has decreased and that nearly all of the cases reported in Canada and the United States have been mild, as of May 18, 2009, the Public Health Agency of Canada no longer recommends Canadians postpone elective or non-essential travel to Mexico.

Here at Camosun College, there have been no reports of infected students or staff. A response team of senior administrators and staff was established in mid-April in order to maintain contact with the Vancouver Island Health Authority, and to disseminate regular updates and information to the Camosun College community. The college has been actively informing students and staff as to how they can protect themselves and minimize the spread of this virus. The college community has also been made aware of several British Columbia and Canadian government websites that upload regular H1N1 updates (see links below).

What can we do to protect ourselves and others

The symptoms of infection with this new virus are typical of most other influenza infections, i.e. any combination of fever, sore throat, coughing, sneezing, runny nose, muscle aches and fatigue. More severe infections within Mexico were also associated with breathing difficulties.

Infections resulting from any influenza-type virus require the same common sense hygienic and preventative measures, including:

For more information

We will continue to keep you informed as the situation unfolds. Please watch for updates on our website and visit the following health authority websites:

Contact

Denis Powers
Human Resources
250–370–3005
powers@camosun.bc.ca

April 28, 2009

As you are aware, an outbreak of swine influenza (“flu”) in Mexico has sickened hundreds of people there, affecting mainly young healthy adults. Fatalities in Mexico have been attributed to a virus (H1N1), which has spread quickly from person to person within the Mexican population.

What is the Swine Flu?

The Swine Flu is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs. Like all influenza viruses, swine flu viruses change constantly. Pigs can be infected by avian influenza and human influenza viruses as well. When influenza viruses from different species infect pigs, new viruses can emerge that are a mix of swine, human and/or avian influenza viruses and most of the recently isolated flu viruses from pigs have been H1N1 viruses. (Public Health Agency of Canada )

A number of milder infections (with no fatalities) have been documented in the last few days in the USA, Canada and several other countries around the world. A case is now being reported in Victoria. All cases recorded outside of Mexico appear to be related to recent travel to Mexico. All of these individuals in these cases seem to be recovering quickly without complications.

What is Camosun doing?

While we have no reported cases at Camosun, we have a response team in place that is monitoring and disseminating information and responding to inquiries from students, employees and parents. This group is also in contact with the Vancouver Island Health Authority and regional and provincial emergency preparedness agencies on a daily basis.

As of April 27 2009, we are being recommended to postpone elective or non-essential travel to Mexico until further notice by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).

Important information

So far, this influenza infection appears to be particularly severe in and around Mexico City (the centre of the outbreak). All cases outside of Mexico have been mild, as noted above.

What can we do to protect ourselves and others

Although cases outside of Mexico appear to be mild, we should continue to be vigilant and to follow these important measures during this influenza outbreak:

Important: if you have any symptoms of the flu (any fever, cough, sneezing, sore throat, etc.) within one week after returning from Mexico, please report this immediately to your doctor.

General common sense protective measures

For more information

We will continue to keep you informed as the situation unfolds. Please watch for regular updates on our website and visit the following health authority websites:

Contact

Denis Powers
Human Resources
250–370–3005
powers@camosun.bc.ca

 

Last updated: 18-Nov-2009 1:36 pm