The Fraser Health Authority is ringing the alarm over a startling wave of people with the H1N1 virus currently in the region.
More than a dozen “ventilated” patients between the ages of 20 and 60 are currently in Fraser Health intensive care units across the region. No cases have been reported in Burnaby, but there are six patients with the severe virus at Royal Columbian Hospital.
“They’re all recent,” Dr. Paul Van Buynder, Fraser Health's chief medical health officer, told The Record. “It’s all been over the last week.”
Van Buynder said he’s surprised to see the extent of the virus as the authority hasn’t seen this many at once since the last pandemic.
“We did see an issue in Alberta a few weeks ago, with a similar pattern and five people died,” he said, adding that he expects all the current patients with the virus to recover fully. “It’s so many in such a short period of time. It’s so surprising particularly because it’s largely younger people.”
Van Buynder said children are usually more susceptible to the virus, and elderly people are more likely to get the H3N2 strain of the virus.
This time, it’s mostly patients in their 30s, including pregnant women, and others who suffer from chronic illnesses.”
In some cases, patients waited too long to go to the hospital because they didn’t feel the severe symptoms in the beginning.
“While some of them are still severely ill … they are gradually improving, but it’s going to take some time for some of them,” he added. “One person will come off the ventilator soon.”
The Fraser Health Authority is encouraging people to get the flu shot, if they haven’t already.
"If you received the 2013 influenza vaccine, you are immunized against the H1N1 strain currently circulating in our community," Van Buynder said. "We are urging those who have not already had their flu shot to get one. It is not too late."
According to Fraser Health, the influenza vaccine is safe and effective at preventing illness when used simultaneously with other infection control practices, including hand washing and staying home when sick.
For more information, go to www.immunizebc.ca.
