Flu-related deaths rise to 12

Almost as many Saskatchewan residents have died from flu-related complications this influenza season as during the 2009-10 H1N1 pandemic.

Dr. Denise Werker, Saskatchewan’s deputy chief medical health officer, confirmed Friday there have been five more influenza-related deaths, which brings the provincial total to 12 this flu season.

Werker noted the average age of those who died was 60. Most had underlying medical conditions.

There were 15 deaths during the 2009-10 pandemic.

As of Thursday, Saskatchewan had 797 total lab-confirmed cases of influenza — up from 618 reported on Jan. 10. There has been a total of 49 influenza-related admissions to intensive care units (ICU), an increase of 17 from last week.

“We can anticipate having more deaths in the coming weeks,” Werker told reporters on Friday.

Flu patients in ICUs range in age from under five to 86 years, with the average age being about 45, Werker said.

The vast majority have underlying health conditions.

Werker is surprised this year’s flu season in Saskatchewan is harsher than last season.

“We are experiencing more deaths and ICU admissions and I think that is attributed to the H1N1, which is predominantly circulating,” she said. “That is not the experience other provinces appear to be having, based on the information that has been shared on federal-provincial-territorial calls.”

For the most part, other provinces are experiencing a similar flu season to that of last year, she said.

Saskatchewan received 12,000 doses of a nasal spray influenza vaccine (FluMist) and 10,000 injectable doses of vaccine last week.

“WE ARE EXPERIENCING MORE DEATHS AND ICU ADMISSIONS AND I THINK THAT IS ATTRIBUTED TO THE H1N1, WHICH IS PREDOMINANTLY CIRCULATING.” DR. DENISE WERKER

“Those vaccines have been distributed to the regional health authorities and have started to get into peoples’ arms and up peoples’ noses,” Werker said.

The initial response to the FluMist vaccine has been favourable.

The province expects to receive an additional 100,000 doses of FluMist on Monday and another shipment of injectable vaccine in the last week of January.

The Ministry of Health must ensure the nasal vaccine is in “good order” before opening flu clinics to more people.

“The vaccine is actually coming from the United States on a refrigerated truck,” Werker said. “When vaccine is shipped, they have indicators in the boxes to make sure that the vaccine is maintained at the correct temperature.”

If the temperature fluctuates too much, the vaccine isn’t effective.

“We do anticipate that we’ll be able to make changes in terms of the current restrictions that we have on administrating vaccine,” Werker said. “At the moment, we are still focusing on the high-risk groups of people who are likely to be most vulnerable.”

The high-risk group includes children under five, pregnant women, women four weeks postpartum and people with severely compromised immune systems, like those who have had organ transplants, are on dialysis and cancer treatment.

At the discretion of medical health officers, those with severely compromised immune systems who are not included in the risk category might be eligible for vaccination.

“The good news is that because H1N1 has circulated previously, we know that there is some protection within the communities, within the population, and people have been vaccinated sooner for the most part,” Werker said.

“When pandemic started, there was not vaccine available at all and there was no immunity in the population.

“We’re in a position now where people who have been vaccinated in October would be protected.”