HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-05-13, Page 3Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, May 13, 2009 - Page A3
Huron still free of confirmed H1N1 virus case
So far, Huron County has watched as more
and more cases of the H1N1 influenza virus
pop up across the globe, while remaining "un-
affected."
•
That's good news, according to Huron
County Public Health Manager Christina
Taylor, but we're not out of the woods yet.
"We're still without a confirmed case of the
virus in the county," Taylor said Monday, "but
we've just seen the closest case yet confirmed
in London over the weekend."
Taylor said, like many Health Units across
the province, Huron is waiting on lab results
to play catch-up. She said that in coming
days, there may appear to be a burst of new
confirmed cases in Ontario, however, it may
not mean that the virus is spreading.
"Dr. David Williams, the Associate Chief
Medical Officer of Health, recently said that
we may start to see little surges in confirmed
cases – that's the labs getting caught up on their
testing," Taylor said. "[Some of those] people
had been sick in April and early May, but the
test results are just now coming back."
Patients who visit health care professionals
with influenza -like symptoms are swabbed
for testing, though Taylor explained, the most
severe cases are analyzed first. She said that
the normal influenza peak season has stuck
around, creating a jump in testing.
"Our regular flu is still in circulation," she
said, noting Huron County's flu -season typi-
cally runs its course through December to
March. "We're now into May, and still seeing
the regular- flu that should be long gone."
While Huron is still a H1N1-free zone, Tay-
lor said that a confirmed case would be notified
to the public soon after a confirmed lab test. To
What to do
help ward off the virus, Taylor stressed the im-
portance of hand washing and hygiene.
"It's important for everyone to take care
of themselves, because that's how influenza
spreads - person to per -
MN
son,"she said.
The Huron County STONETOWN
Health Unit has setup —MASONRY & RESTORATION 1
up-to-date information
on the H1N1 virus on,
their Web site, www.huroncounty.ca/health.
Taylor said the site is linked to federal govern-
ment information, and offers tips and symp-
toms to look for.
The symptoms of H1 N1 flu (previously known as swine flu) are similar to other
seasonal flus:
chills and cough followed by fever, loss of appetite, muscle aches and fatigue
runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes and throat irritation. Nausea, vomiting and
diarrhea may occur in adults as well as in children. In severe cases, or in indi-
viduals with other medical problems, pneumonia can develop.
Health officials have the following advice for people to avoid
spreading any flu-like virus:
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw
the tissue in the trash after you use it. Wash your hands often with soap and
water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Akohol-based hand cleaners are
also effective. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this
way. Try to avoid close contact with sick people. Stay home from work or
school and limit contact with others if you get sick.
Mayor joins Great Lakes action plan
Dave Sykes_
signal -star publisher
Local government is finally claiming a major stake and
role in the promotion and protection of one of the greatest
fresh water resources in the world: The Great Lakes.
On May 5, the Great Lakes Mayors presented an action
plan to protect the Great Lakes to the Ontario Ministries
of the Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture,
Food and Rural Affairs at the first Provincial -Municipal
Great Lakes summit in Toronto.
For Goderich Mayor Deb Shewfelt, a consultative and
involved approach to forging a strategic co-ordination
among levels of government to protect the
lakes is a strong and formative step.
"This is great stuff," he said. "There were
five strong points that came out of the meeting
and it creates a table where we can meet once a
year with provincial and federal levels of gov-
ernment.
"We are taking more action on the lakes and
have a commitment for the province to speak
to the federal government and it's important
they are involved. Money will be the bottom
line but there are 40 million people taking their
drinking water from the lakes, so it will get at-
tention?'
While the mayors have a vested interest in
the protection and promotion of the Great
Lakes since they provide drinking water, rec-
reation beaches and waterfront areas for tour-
ism opportunities and also manage their storm
and wastewater systems that impact the water
quality.
Local governments in Ontario, Quebec and
eight American states that border the lakes,
spend $15 billion every year to protect and re-
store the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River
system.
The Mayors action plan suggested five areas
of collaboration.
The first initiative was to create a forum and
relationship among federal, provincial and mu-
nicipal governments to reinvigorate protection
of the Great Lakes for the benefits of residents.
The mayors are calling for thij federal -provin-
cial -municipal Great Lakes Table to co-ordinate
efforts and share information.
. , 1 , v 1 • • ♦ ♦ -.
There's no better way to strengthen the public's con-
nection to the Great Lakes than to enhance and promote
beaches and shoreline activities, the mayors' second initia-
tive states.
"We have to improve the beaches and trail systems that
connect people to the lakes," Shewfelt said. "We've had
programs to do the hot spots but
we need to do more with algae and 1
invasive species in the lakes."
The mayors have called for the
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