Canada: More H1N1 cases reported in Nunavut
Canada:
More H1N1 cases reported in Nunavut Health minister still won't name affected communities
Last Updated: Tuesday, December 8, 2009 | 9:18 AM CT
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/north/story/20 ... cases.html The number of swine flu cases in Nunavut continues to rise, but Health Minister Tagak Curley says it doesn't necessarily mean a second flu wave is underway.
Since health officials announced 15 lab-confirmed H1N1 influenza cases on Dec. 1, another 17 cases have been diagnosed, Curley told MLAs in the legislature on Monday.
Curley said none of the recent cases have required hospitalization.
"I'm not in a position as a minister to confirm whether or not there is a second wave, but our chief medical health officer did indicate it could possibly be," Curley said, adding that it's important that everyone get the flu shot if they haven't done so already.
The new cases followed a 16-day vaccination campaign last month, in which more than 18,000 people in all of Nunavut's 25 communities got the H1N1 flu shot.
Communities not named
When the first round of new cases was announced, chief medical health officer Dr. Isaac Sobol said a second H1N1 wave was "likely" beginning in Nunavut.
On Monday, Curley maintained the Health Department's position of not naming communities where people are sick, despite recent statements to the contrary by the territory's information and privacy commissioner.
In October, Elaine Keenan Bengts told MLAs that she sees no reason not to name communities that are affected by a communicable disease.
But Curley reaffirmed the department's stance, saying the commissioner's remarks were not clear.
He added that the Health Department is focused on curbing the spread of the H1N1 virus, not its disclosure policy. _________________