HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2003-11-26, Page 7News
Health unit urges flu immunization
as children susceptible to 'A Fuiian'
By Susan Hund.rtmark
Expositor Editor
This winter's flu season
could be a nasty one and the
Huron County Health Unit is
urging residents to get their
flu shot as soon as possible.
But, at the same time that a
particularly serious strain of
flu called "A Fujian" has
arrived, health unit officials
are concerned that attendance
at flu shot clinics at Huron
schools is at its lowest level
since the shots began being
offered at schools three years
ago.
"It's a big concern," says
Linda Stobo, of the health
unit.
Stobo says the Huron
health unit is hoping for the
big line-ups being
experienced in London
recently since the
announcement was made that
A Fujian has come to Canada.
The A Fujian flu virus has
been detected in Alberta,
Saskatchewan, British
Columbia and Ontario; at
least five children in Britain
have died from the flu caused
by this strain. Huron County
has no cases of flu so far this
fall.
"With SARS, we had no
line of defence so there was a
sense of powerlessness. But,
with the flu, there is
something we can do but
people aren't taking
advantage of it," she says.
While most schools in
Huron have already
completed their first flu
clinics, the health unit is
beginning to return to the
schools this Friday to
administer the second flu shot
for children
under the age
of nine, who
require two
shots to be
protected.
Stobo says
parents who
would like to
take
advantage of
the free flu
shot can still
contact their
schools and
ask for
permission
forms for the
second clinic.
In Seaforth,
the last of a
series of four
clinics is being held today
(Nov. 26) at the Seaforth
arena from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Mary Cardinal, site leader
of Seaforth Community
Hospital, says 727 people
have been immunized in
Seaforth so far, with last
week's clinic the busiest so
far. Last year, more than 800
shots were given through the
Seaforth clinics.
According to Health
Canada, already there have
been 43 cases of flu
diagnosed in Canada this fall;
two-thirds of those cases were
caused by the A Fujian strain.
The other cases were
caused by the A Panama
strain.
The health unit urges
everyone to get the flu shot to
limit the effects of flu
infection.
Since this
Quoted
'With the flu
there is
something we
can do but
people aren't
taking
advantage of
lt�
Linda Stobo, Huron
County Health unit
particular strain
of flu was not
expected to
surface this
year, it is not
covered in this
year's flu shot.
However,
Dr. Beth
Henning,
Huron County
medical officer
of health is
s t i l l
recommending
in a recent
press release
that everyone
should get
their flu shot
as soon as
possible.
"According
to the National Microbiology
Lab, the A Fujian strain is
similar to the A Panama
strain, which is included in
this year's flu shot", Henning
explains. "The flu shot
vaccine will still provide
some protection against
influenza caused by the A
Fujian strain, and will provide
full protection against the A
Panama strain."
This is one of the earliest
flu seasons we have had and it
seems to be primarily
affecting children
"Since flu virus activity
over the last few years has
been generally low, people
will have limited or no
protective immunity against
the virus, putting them at
higher risk for serious flu
illness", explains Dr.
Henning.
She says young children are
particularly susceptible to the
flu because most have little or
no history of exposure to the
flu virus.
Others at risk for
complications from the flu
include babies, the elderly,
and those with chronic health
conditions like asthma,
kidney disease, diabetes,
cancer or heart problems.
Over the last month, the
health unit has offered the flu
shot to children, youth, and
adults in school-based and
community-based clinics
across the county.
It is not too late to get your
flu shot. The Seaforth
Community Hospital is
hosting a free flu shot clinic at .
the Seaforth and District
Community Centre on Nov.
26 from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m.
You can also get your flu
shot by contacting your
doctor or by coming to the
Huron County Health Unit
office in Clinton on
weekdays, between 1:15 and
4 p.m.
If you have any questions
about the flu or the flu shot,
contact the health unit at
(519) 482-3416; if calling
long distance, dial 1-877-837-
6143. For more information,
check out the website at
[http://www.huroncounty.ca/h
e a 1 t h u n i t
1www.huroncounty.ca/healthu
nit.
Ag Society craft show expecting many
new vendors as organizers change date
By Sara Campbell
Expositor Staff
With a new date and many
new vendors, organizers are
counting down the days until
the beginning of the Toy,
Sports Card, Teddy Bear,
Doll, Gift and Craft Sale.
The Seaforth Agricultural
Society's 17th annual event
is set to take place on
Saturday, Nov. 29 and
Sunday, Nov. 30 from 10 -
4:30 p.m., at the Seaforth
Arena, Public School and
Agriplex.
"This is a huge project for
the society; it's our biggest
event," said Joyce Ribey,
Seaforth Agriculture Society
member and co-ordinator of
the event.
"Thankfully, we also have
many loyal volunteers that
assist us and the community
is very supportive of the
event."
Ribey said the society
started the event as a farm
toy sale in the Agriplex and
after a few years it expanded
to a craft sale, then toys and
so on.
She said there is one
change with the sale this year
- the date. The event is
normally held during the first
weekend of December but
the society found most
vendors could not attend
when the event is too close to
Christmas, she said.
"Having it on this weekend
makes it a greater way to
celebrate the Christmas
season in town and do your
Christmas shopping," she
said.
The weekend also includes
$I,000
in gas stolen
from Grey
works yard
Close to $1.000 in gas was
stolen from a tank at the rear
of the building at the public
works yard on Newry Road
in Grey sometime overnight
on Nov. 19.
Someone entered the yard
during the night, removed a
gas -siphoning pump and then
used it to steal 200 litres of
gas.
Anyone with related
information is asked to call
the Huron OPP or Crime
Stoppers.
the Seaforth Christmas
parade on Nov. 28 and the
Tree of Lights Ceremony on
Nov. 30.
Ribey said the total
number of vendors was
unknown as of last week
because some are still being
confirmed. She said there are
about 260 tables in total to be
set up.
"It's a chance to see locals
and people from Ontario
show off their talent," she
said.
Many new vendors are
expected to participate in the
event including a new Tonka
toy collector and a vendor
from as far as Sudbury with
wooden toys to sell.
"There are one -of -a -kind
toys, dolls and crafts by one -
of -a -kind artists,' she said.
Ribey said the Agriplex
will be filled with farm toys
and sports cards or
collector's items, while the
community centre will be
stocked with teddy bears,
dolls and gifts, and the public
school will be full of crafts.
"It's a great way to start a
hobby and get together with
other collectors. You get to•
meet some wonderful
people," she said, adding that
she starting collecting dolls
from attending the sale.
She said there will hay
rides going to and from each
locations and thiere is an
ATM available at the
Agriplex.
Food booths will also be
set up at each location
including at the public school
where Grade 8 students will
be cooking to raise funds for
their school trip, she said.
She said the $4 admission
fee will be used towards
building upkeep, the fall fair
and other society activities.
Admission for children under
the age 10 are free.
Ribey said she is already
preparing for next year's
event and will be booking
vendors on the weekend.
THANK YOU
I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to
the residents of Seaforth for allowing me to
represent them for the past 15 years. I have
thoroughly enjoyed the experience and all the
people with whom I have had thepleasure to
work. Now I look forward to a break and
opportunities to do other things.
I send my congratulations to our new mayor
and councillors and wish them every success in
their council endeavours for our Municipality of
Huron East on our behalf.
Best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy
New Year.
Bill Teall
The Bottom line
Year end tax
strategies!
Wednesday, December 3rd
7-9:30 p.m.
Huron Business Centre, Seaforth
"We have many faithful
vendors who keep coming
back each year," she said.
"We're looking forward to
next year's event too."
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