Sick Kids ER cases double over H1N1 concerns
October 28, 2009
THE CANADIAN PRESS
Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children says it's seeing double the amount of emergency room patients than usual as parents bring their children in over H1N1 concerns.
Dr. Anne Matlow says the weekend appears to have been a tipping point, and while she wouldn't provide an exact figure, she says the volume of cases is similar to what they see during peak flu season – which usually comes much later in the year.
Matlow says H1N1 is the main respiratory virus being seen in the ER but adds most of the cases are mild and children are being sent home with their parents.
Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty is urging residents to wait their turn for the swine flu shot in the wake of recent deaths of two children from the H1N1 virus.
Evan Frustaglio, a 13-year-old hockey player from Toronto, died Monday after falling sick on the weekend and 10-year-old Vanetia Warner of Cornwall died Saturday after being ill for several days.
McGuinty says residents who aren't in a priority group should let the most vulnerable people go to the front of the line, such as pregnant women and young children.
McGuinty says he's not pushing for pre-teens to be added to the priority list because he trusts the advice of public health officials.
He says everyone is moving as quickly as they can to roll out the vaccine, and there will be enough vaccine for everyone who wants the shot – including him.
McGuinty said Wednesday that he's not sure if he'll let TV cameras in when he gets vaccinated, joking that a "lot of people want to give the premier a shot."
Find everything you need to know on our H1N1 page.
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