The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is urging members working in health care and the public to take note of an outbreak of severe respiratory illness (SRI) that began in Mexico and is spreading globally.
Suspected cases of the disease – a strain of swine flu – have been reported in numerous areas of the U.S. as well as Canada, New Zealand and Europe. There are no cases reported in Manitoba so far.
Governments in a growing number of countries are monitoring the situation closely. Some have already issued travel warnings to the U.S. and Mexico and are gearing up for additional responses, including quarantine measures, as required. Meanwhile, teams of scientists from the Winnipeg-based National Microbiology Lab have started work on a vaccine to protect against the strain of swine flu and are investigating whether the existing flu shot could offer any protection from the virus.
The first instances in Canada were disclosed on Sunday, including so-called "mild" cases in Nova Scotia and B.C. The initial Canadian cases were less severe than those reported in Mexico and a number of other countries.
If cases of SRI are discovered in Manitoba, health care workers providing direct care – in the same room or in close contact – to SRI patients are advised to wear properly fit-tested respirators.
A Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist is also available online from NUPGE and the Canadian Health Professionals Secretariat (CHPS).