Canada Reports First Case Of Human-to-human Transmission Of Swine Flu Within Nova Scotia Canada

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Main Category: Swine Flu
Also Included In: Flu / Cold / SARS;  Pediatrics / Children's Health;  Public Health
Article Date: 03 May 2009 - 0:00 PDT

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A Canadian student at King's-Edgehill School, Windsor, Nova Scotia has caught swine flu from another student in Canada who had become infected after a trip to Mexico, according to a report in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

Patricia Jreige, from Nova Scotia Promotion and Protection, says the student only has mild symptoms and is recovering well. She added that Nova Scotia authorities were not surprised that human-to-human transmission may occur in Canada. "It was expected to spread. We've been noting that from the beginning. It's taking its usual course. No change in provincial procedures is required as a result of the case. We've been following the protocols. It's business as usual."

Susan McLeod, the school's marketing and communications director, said because of student privacy concerns no details surrounding the case can be disclosed. Joseph Seagram, headmaster, posted a letter on the school's website stating that 4 pupils had tested positive for swine flu. Two of the pupils are still in isolation.

The National Microbiology Laboratory of Canada in Winnipeg, Manitoba, will soon provide results on swabs taken from another eight students. Authorities expect these eight to come back positive. If they do, the total number of infected children in the school will rise to 12. The 4 students who originally came down with the virus after returning from a trip to Mexico have made a full recovery.

The total number of confirmed cases in Canada now stands at 34.

Source
CMAJ - DOI:10.1503/cmaj.090834

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Written by - Christian Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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