Alberta Health reports two more H1N1-related deaths
Michelle Lang, Calgary Herald
Published: Friday, November 06, 2009
CALGARY - Alberta Health announced two more H1N1-related fatalities in the province on Friday, one day after linking four other deaths with the new flu strain.
The provincial department reported the two deaths on its website this afternoon, but offered no details on where the patients lived, their ages or whether they had any health problems that could have predisposed them to developing serious disease from H1N1.
In total, 20 deaths in the province have been linked to the swine flu.
The news comes one day after the country's Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. David Butler-Jones, said Canadians should be prepared to hear about more swine flu deaths in the coming weeks as the H1N1 pandemic is showing no signs of slowing down.
The spread of the H1N1 virus picked up speed over the past week and its prevalence is nearing levels that were seen at the peak of the first wave in June, he said.
"We expect to hear of more illness and deaths in the coming weeks as we go further into the second wave. This is something we have to be prepared for as much as it saddens us," said Butler-Jones, on Thursday.
News of the additional Alberta deaths also comes as Alberta Health Services fired a second person for their involvement in helping the Calgary Flames and their families jump the H1N1 vaccination queue last week.
The superboard said in a statement it dismissed the second staff member who was involved with the decision to provide the vaccine to the NHL team.
Alberta Health Services also fired a mid-level manager earlier this week over the issue.
mlang@theherald.canwest.com
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