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Ottawa residents get their wristbands for access to the H1N1 vaccine, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009.
Swine flu threat starts to wane in parts of eastern Ont.
Updated: Thu Nov. 05 2009 4:15:00 PM
ctvottawa.ca
Although two health units in eastern Ontario are reporting the second wave of swine flu is on the wane, that's not the case in Ottawa.
Health officials in Hastings and Prince Edward Counties, as well as Leeds, Grenville and Lanark, said Thursday that visits to the emergency room and school absenteeism are starting to return to normal levels, which indicates H1N1 cases are likely decreasing.
"This outbreak actually peaked seven to 10 days ago," said Dr. Richard Schabas, medical officer of health in Hastings and Prince Edward Counties.
"We've been watching the number come down for a few days now."
He added that other parts of the province will likely see similar indications in the coming weeks. However, health officials cautioned although swine flu is starting to wane, serious illness and deaths linked to the virus are still expected.
Ottawa still in second wave
While the situation seems to be getting under control in parts of eastern Ontario, health officials in Ottawa say the capital is still experiencing a high number of cases.
Ottawa reported its sixth swine flu-related death on Wednesday. Fifty-nine Ottawa residents have been admitted to hospital since the beginning of September.
Vaccine supply running out
Meantime, residents across the province are continuing to stand in line to get vaccinated for swine flu.
Ottawa's chief medical officer of health says the city might be forced to temporarily close its flu clinics if it doesn't receive a new shipment of the H1N1 vaccine soon.
Dr. Isra Levy predicts the city only has enough vaccine for the next few days.
"We have roughly three days supply left depending on how quickly we use it and how much we get from our providers and what we're waiting for is clarification on how much and when we'll get the next shipment," Levy told reporters on Thursday.
Ontario is expected to receive another 189,000 individual doses of the H1N1 vaccine next week. However, there's no word on when Ottawa will receive its next shipment.
Although there's concern about supply levels of the regular H1N1 vaccine, Ottawa will open a special flu clinic for expectant mothers at the Ottawa Hospital's Riverside Campus on Saturday.
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Comments are now closed for this story
Sally
As usual, the press is trying to blow things out of proportion.
Of course the doses are going to be kept in storage. How else do they organize how they get distributed.
And, just because the person contacted for the city in this article, doesn't have the details regarding when Ottawa receives the next shipment, doesn't mean this person is the correct contact for this information, nor does it mean Ottawa won't be seeing more vaccines in a timely matter.
I can't believe what I first heard with Steve Madely on CRFA this morning, got forwarded and published at CTV. Maybe CFRA and CTV need to be responsible in what they release. There is no need to push more panic buttons.
Pete
I still stand by my decision to avoid the flu shot.
However, I wonder at the fuss over health care workers having their families vacinated. We will need these workers, protecting them from their own family members may be the most critical step in this fight.
I resist this immunization only because I know others need it even more than I do.
Jay
Sally
THe thing is most prov including ontario claim there almost out of vaccine.If it was in storage i doubt they would say this.As for the contact at the city that is ottawa top medical person so if anyone was to know he would.As for holding cfra and ctv responsible the probleam si there getting the word out there.There not doing anything wrong at all.
Adam in Ottawa
This is some state of the art marketing disguised as a fear propaganda campaign and I ain;t falling for it. Not a chance !
Have NO FEAR !