Lucknow Sentinel, 2009-09-23, Page 6Page 6 - Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, September 23, 2009
love. from your
family and friends
HAPPY. 25TH ANHVERSA!Y,
Health unit says H 1 N 1 is nothing to be scared about
BY ELYSE
DEWAR
Kincardine News
$rte
It may have been
called a pandemic,
but public health
says there is noth-
ing to be scared
about when it
comes to the flu.
The infamous
H1N1 influenza
virus, dominating
almost the entire
world, has been
confirmed .in. Bruce
and Grey counties.
However,; Public
Health Nurse for
the Communicably
Disease Program
Debby Minielly
said it's nothing the
public should panic
about.
"The
World.
Health
Organization called
it a pandemic
because of it's abili-
ty to spread, not
because of the
severity of it," said
Minielly. "It may
love, your children.
e&-
Dan
and Pat .Gampbeil, of Wingham
are thrilled to announce the marriage
of their daughter,
Ashley Ann to Dennis James,
son of Anne and Steve Andrew, Ashfield Twp.
The wedding will take place at the Andrew
farm on October 3, 2009. Family and close
friends are invited to help celebrate at
the reception beginning at 9 p.m. at
the Lucknow Community Centre.
**.
O
Happy 65th
wedding
anniversary
Grace & Ross Gammie
have made its way
around the world,
but it isn't much dif-
ferent than the sea-
sonal flu."
The virus origi-
nated in Mexico,
making its way to
the northern hemi-
sphere and by
April/May of this
year, there were a
handful of con-
firmed cases of
H1N1 _:in Grey and
Bruce counties.
"The last few
Influenza A cases
we've had (in !Grey,
Bruce), there hasn't
been any sub -test-
ing sent away," said
Minielly.
Sub -testing
means when the
Health Unit tested
patients, theyalso
send samples to be
e
tested for 111N1.
Minielly said
lately ; there have
been "no new
cases" in Grey. and
Bruce.
The Ontario
Public Health
Association has cre-
ated a brochuke, that
will be circulated to
each home in the
province, warning
residents the impor-
tance of getting not
only the "flu shot"
but also a vaccine
for the H1N1 vino.
"They are stress-
ing that this year: is
a different flu sea-
son," said Minielly.
"Because both
Influenza A and
H1N1 viruses can
live on hard sur-
faces for up to two
days, the brochure
stresses how to
properly clean sur-
faces, sneeze into
your sleeve and so
on."
H1N1 and
Influenza A are very
similar in terms of
symptoms.
"A fever and
cough are what is
classified .as 'the
flu', but people can
have various other
symptoms such as
sore t_hroat, muscle
aches and intestinal
pain," said Minielly.
According to the
Public Health
Agency of Canada's
web site, the 111N1
flu virus is a respi-
ratory illness that
affects the nose,
throat and lungs.
Tis virus usually
affectsPig s, but has
been transferred to
humans.
HIN1 virus has
caused primarily
mild illness in
Canada, but
Canadians : treed to
be prepared to
respond to a ppten-
tially more severe
form of the virus
that may emerge.
this fall.
It also stated
H1N1 is contagious
and is spread the
same way as regular
seasonal influenza.
This happens when
an infected person
coughs or sneezes
and their germs
enter the nose, eyes,
or throat of another
person. The germs
can also rest on
hard surfaces like
counters and door-
knobs, and can be
picked up on hands
and transmitted to
the respiratory sys-
tem when someone
touches their mouth
and/or nose.
It is not possible
to catch it by eating
pork or pork prod-
ucts or through
blood transfusions.
More research is
being done on how
long a person can
be infectious, but it
is believed that this
period is : for one
day before the onset
of symptoms and
continues . for about
seven days after
symptoms have
started. The time it
takes between
being infected and
experiencing symp-
toms is between
two and seven days.
Prevention of
spreading both sea-
sonal flu and H1N1
is simple. Clean
surfaces properly
and get the flu shot.
"There are a lot of
myths out there
about the flu shot,"
said Minielly.
"Getting the shot
does not give you.
•
the flu. It is a dead
virus so it is impos-
sible to get the flu
from the shot."
She said a lot of
research has been
done on the vaccine
and the only differ-
ence between a per-
son who has had the
shot and who hasn't
is a sore arm where
the needle was
injected.
"People who
coincidently get the
flu shortly after get-
ting the flu shot
may have. had
something brewing
in their system
before receiving the
shot," said Minielly.
The vaccine. takes
a few days to kick
Minielly said
although people
may . not get the flu
each year, it doesn't
mean they can't
pasthe s
someone else.
If you visit your
elderly grandmoth-
er or if you have a' andmoth-erorifyouhavea'
small baby you care
for, you should get
the flu shot," said
.Minielly.
"It's not
just about you."
Also, there are so
many different
strains of Influenza.
Every flu season,
the vaccine for the
shot is based on the
most common
strains Public
Health encountered
the previous year.
"The Influenza
virus can mutate
and change,"
Minielly said.
On average last
year, there were
9,000 lab confirmed
cases of Influenza A
in Ontario with 300
reported deaths due
to complications
from the virus.
By Aug. 25,
Minielly said there
are 4,000 lab con-
firmed cases of
H1N1 with 23
deaths due to com-
plications.
She said the
deaths were a result
of citizens
contract-
ing either Influenza
A or H1N1 who.
already had a weak-
ened immune sys-
tem due to existing
chronic health
issues.
"Those who .: are.
at most risk are
erly people an
small children,
said Minielly.
"111N1 seems to hit
youngerpeople
harder. It is also
reported that preg-
nant women are
more vulnerable to
contact H1N1."
The reason for
the sudden panic .of
111N1 was not only
the media frenzy
scaring citizens
about ;• a "pandem-
ic", but because it is
a new virus.
Because this is a
new virus, we're
still learning about
said Minielly.
"It's still in its early
days."
The Public
Health Agency of
Canada's web site
said the H1N1 flu
virus is a new strain
of pandemic
influenza which is
different than the
seasonal flu. People
have • no natural
immunity to protect
against this virus.
For more infor-
mation contact the
Grey Bruce Public
Health at 519-376-
9420 or visit the
Public Health
Agency of Canada's
web site at
www.phac-
aspc.gc.ca.
e TERPSTRA AITCHISON
•
se
Jill and John
Terpstra 1!
of
St. Thomas
are happy
to welcome
a daughter
ZoeJttJief&u Loui4a.
on September 1, 2009
weighing 7 Ib. 10 oz. at
Victoria Hosptial, London.
Excited grandparents are Jack
and Annabelle Aitchison and
Harry and Louisa Terpstra
and great grandparents
Lorne and Marg Ritchie and
Celia Aitchison.
lots of love, Garry, Bryan,
Dale, Loree and families
Rit icaL3tai
Best wishes, too, for an
electrifying experience at
College in Kitchener.
Love
Dad, Mom, Coleen, Patrick, & Kyle