Health Unit says flu cases on the decline

North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit
News Release

***********************

The Health Unit announced today influenza activity is declining in the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit area.

Overall, the number of schools with high absentee rates is continuing to decline and hospitals are reporting a decrease in the Influenza Like Illness related visits to the Emergency Departments.

“It is important that you be aware of what is happening in your area,” said Dr. Jim Chirico, Medical Officer of Health. “The H1N1 varies widely between different regions, and while in our district the influenza activity is declining, other regions may just be reaching their peak activity.”

The Health Unit received some H1N1 adjuvanted vaccine yesterday and anticipates another small shipment next week from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.

With the arrival of the vaccine, the Health Unit has scheduled clinics for high priority groups only throughout our district.

“We anticipate expanding the groups for immunization very soon, possibly as early as tomorrow.” adds Dr. Chirico.

Current clinics for high priority groups include:

• Thursday, November 12 in Mattawa from 2 to 6 pm at the Arena

• Thursday, November 12 in Sturgeon Falls from 2 to 8 pm at the Recreation Centre

• Friday, November 13 in North Bay from 9 am to 4 pm at Memorial Gardens on Chippewa Street

• Saturday, November 14 in Sundridge from 12 to 4 pm, at the SSJ Arena

• Saturday, November 14 in Parry Sound from 12 to 5 pm at the vacant Giant Tiger on Williams Street

The high priority groups continue to include:

o For adults under 65 years of age with chronic conditions

o Pregnant women

o Children from 6 months to 5 years of age

o First Nations people

o Health care workers

o Household contacts of infants under 6 months of age

o Household contacts and care providers of persons who cannot be immunized or may not respond to vaccines.

For current information on H1N1 or the vaccine clinics, visit www.healthunit.biz or call the Health Unit at 474-1400 or 1-800-563-2808.

***********************