Canadian Health Officials Prepare for Pandemic H1N1 Amid Growing Number of Fatalities

Strategic Insights -

As the H1N1 pandemic continues to spread globally, Canadian health officials are taking steps to prepare for the anticipated wave of the virus in the fall. Clinical trials of a vaccine against the pandemic H1N1 influenza will begin months after those trials are conducted in other countries, but health officials in Ottawa say they will be completed by the time the vaccine is ready for production. In a recent teleconference, Canada's chief medical officer of health, David Butler-Jones, assured parents that Tamiflu, an antiviral drug, has a strong safety profile and is a "strong and important" treatment option for infants under one year old, who are increasingly vulnerable to complications from the virus.

Key Takeaways:

  • Canadian clinical trials of the pandemic H1N1 vaccine will begin by September or early October, months after trials are conducted in other countries.
  • The vaccine is expected to be ready for production in November, and health officials anticipate completing clinical trials by then.
  • Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq has signed an interim order allowing doctors to prescribe Tamiflu to prevent infection or treat cases of pandemic H1N1 in infants under one year old.
  • Most recently, a 60-year-old Quebec man was given Tamiflu after his son fell ill with the virus, but he still got sick, becoming Canada's first recorded case of Tamiflu-resistant H1N1 virus.
  • The National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg is beginning a study to figure out why some people have been so severely affected by the virus.
  • Four provinces and 12 intensive-care units have indicated that they will participate in the review of over 100 cases of people infected with the virus.

Statistics:

  • At least 55 fatalities have occurred across Canada due to the H1N1 virus, with eight more deaths in the past week.
  • Over 100 cases of severe H1N1 infection are being reviewed to determine the role of factors such as age, weight, gender, underlying diseases, genetic background, or immunization history.
  • The National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg is beginning a study with the help of intensive-care units across the country to figure out why some people have been so severely affected by the virus.

Sources:

  • "Byline: GLORIA GALLOWAY AND CAROLINE ALPHONSO," as published in the Globe and Mail article.

Note: The original article does not contain exact dates for the publication, only a mention of a teleconference.