H1N1 flu outbreak at Misericordia Hospital hits staff, patients
About a dozen staff and handful of patients have come down with the flu, officials say

CBC News Posted: Dec 20, 2013 10:41 AM MT Last Updated: Dec 20, 2013 4:14 PM MT
     
     

Health officials have confirmed an outbreak of H1N1 flu at Edmonton's Misericordia Hospital.

Earlier today, medical officer of health Dr. Chris Sikora said about a dozen staff and a handful of patients have come down with the flu, though that number was revised to three lab-confirmed cases with others under investigation.

Containment procedures are now in effect within the hospital to help curb the spread of the virus.

Sikora said only about 20 per cent of staff at the hospital are immunized, a number he called abysmal.

He changed that number to 42 per cent later in the day, but expressed frustration over the low total, urging people to get their flu shots to protect themselves and others who may be more vulnerable.

A roving immunization team is now working its way through the hospital for any employees willing to accept the shot.

The Nurses Union and the union for hospital support staff have both spoken against mandatory immunization for workers.

However, hospital management does have the option of sending nurses and employees who are not immunized home unpaid – an issue currently under discussion at the Misericordia.
H1N1 causing problems across province

AHS says most flu problems in Edmonton and across northern Alberta are caused by an H1N1 variant, with nursing homes and daycare centres also being affected.

“It's really started to emerge over the last couple of days,” said Sikora.

However mass immunization clinics close at 4:30 p.m. today until Jan. 6th, though doctor offices and pharmacies will continue to offer the vaccine.

AHS is urging anyone with symptoms to stay home and recuperate.

Earlier this week, health officials in B.C. advised young people to get a flu vaccine after determining that the H1N1 influenza strain had returned to become the predominant strain in that province this flu season.

The strain, initially called swine flu, circulated during a global pandemic in 2009.

So does this count as a cluster of 100? How worried should we be. Why on eart would doctors be pushing the vaccine when its recipients spread live virus for up to 21 days afterwards - jmo but that's asking for a nightmare spread!?!?

http://www.calgaryherald.comews/calgary/Dozens+hospitalized+after+nasty+hits+Calgary/9332748/story. - http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/calgary/Dozens+hospitalized+after+nasty+hits+Calgary/9332748/story.html

cobber if this virus has mutated and it is causing a cytokine storm, because 20-40 have a healthy immune system and getting the flu shot stimulates the t cells, would they not be at an even higher risk taking the flu shot

This year's H1N1 is undeniably a really bad flu strain that's hitting much harder than normal, but we're not seeing the ERs overwhelmed or significant numbers of deaths at this point. I personally think people are reading more into this than the situation warrants. If it turns into something to really worry about, you'll hear about it here before 99.9% of the population does. Get the shot, stay tuned, and as Douglas Adams said, don't panic