| At least one Canadian group formed after SARS | | | | past.The WHO recommends the following to |
| hit Toronto is working with the World Health | | | | public health groups dealing with cases of |
| Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease | | | | Avian Flu:* Co-ordinate services: |
| Control and Prevention (CDCP) and other | | | | Agricultural, veterinary and health services |
| organizations to help boost public | | | | (along with other sector services deemed as |
| safety.That group is the Public Health Agency | | | | appropriate) should exchange lab information |
| of Canada (PHAC), which was formed in 2004. | | | | and other data.* Vaccination for public |
| It acts independently but is responsible to | | | | health reasons: Health authorities may |
| Canada's health minister. | | | | consider vaccination against more common, |
| | | | seasonal influenza for persons at risk of |
| PHAC is in the midst of creating a pandemic | | | | occupational exposure to the H5N1 virus. |
| plan for Canada, said Aggie Adamczyk, media | | | | Vaccination against seasonal influenza is a |
| relations officer with the agency.The plan is | | | | public health measure aimed at slashing the |
| not being formulated just for the Avian Flu | | | | progression of HN51 along with the seasonal |
| but for any disease that could reach pandemic | | | | flu. Even so, vaccination against seasonal |
| proportions, although PHAC is monitoring the | | | | influenza will not protect people against |
| Bird Flu situation. | | | | infection with the H5N1 virus.* Protection of |
| | | | persons at risk of occupational exposure: |
| The agency recommends "good respiratory | | | | This is aimed at helping protect people who |
| etiquette," she said, which includes using a | | | | work on farms or other businesses wherein |
| tissue or sleeve when a sneeze comes upon | | | | contact with fowl is common. Such people |
| you. Plenty of hand washing is also a PHAC | | | | should wear personal protective equipment as |
| suggestion.Where the regular Influenza A | | | | follows:1. Protective clothing, preferably |
| symptoms include aching muscles, sore nose, | | | | coveralls plus an impermeable apron or |
| high fever and coughing, people wary of the | | | | surgical gown with long-cuffed sleeves plus |
| Bird Flu should be on the watch for symptoms | | | | an impermeable apron.2. Heavy-duty rubber |
| pinpointed in a 1997 Hong Kong outbreak. | | | | work gloves that can be disinfected.3. |
| | | | Standard well-fitted surgical masks should be |
| In that outbreak, people "developed symptoms | | | | used if high-efficiency respiratory masks are |
| of fever, sore throat, cough and, in several | | | | not available. Masks should be fit-tested and |
| of the fatal cases, severe respiratory | | | | training in their use should be provided.4. |
| distress secondary to viral pneumonia. | | | | Goggles.5. Rubber or polyurethane boots that |
| Previously healthy adults and children, and | | | | can be disinfected or protective foot covers |
| some with chronic medical conditions, were | | | | that can be discarded.Tamiflu should be made |
| affected," according to WHO Web | | | | available to people who work in at-risk |
| information.As with the WHO, PHAC isn't | | | | conditions, the WHO recommends. In addition, |
| rushing to recommend the use of SARS-style | | | | people in such occupations should be aware of |
| face masks to ward off the Avian Flu, | | | | the early clinical signs of H5N1 infection |
| Adamczyk said, although that could change | | | | and check for them daily (as well as for two |
| depending on the course the H5N1 virus takes. | | | | weeks after the last exposure to |
| | | | potentially-dangerous conditions), with the |
| "It's a little bit early (for masks or | | | | caveat that many of those signs are also |
| antiviral drugs) at this point," she said. | | | | apparent in more common diseases.The |
| | | | following symptoms should be reported to a |
| Even so, global health officials need to be | | | | doctor, according to the WHO: |
| ready for whatever new infectious disease | | | | |
| comes their way, she said. | | | | "Most patients infected with the H5N1 virus |
| | | | show initial symptoms of fever (38 C or |
| "No one really knows if it will be Avian Flu | | | | higher) followed by influenza-like |
| or something like SARS. You have to be ready | | | | respiratory symptoms, including cough, |
| for (any disease)," Adamczyk said.It is | | | | rhinorrhea, sore throat, and (less |
| possible to create a vaccine for a pandemic | | | | frequently) shortness of breath. Watery |
| flu, although making it ahead of time is | | | | diarrhea is often present in the early stages |
| risky because the flu could mutate, limiting | | | | of illness, and may precede respiratory |
| the vaccine's effectiveness. The amount of | | | | symptoms by up to one week. Gastrointestinal |
| vaccine that would be needed for a pandemic | | | | symptoms (abdominal pain, vomiting) may occur |
| could also prove to be a problem, although | | | | and headache has also been reported. To date, |
| research is underway to find technologies to | | | | one report has described two patients who |
| streamline the vaccine production process.In | | | | presented with an encephalopathic illness and |
| the event of a pandemic, public health | | | | diarrhea without apparent respiratory |
| officials could ask people to remain in their | | | | symptoms."People suspected of carrying the |
| homes and refrain from gathering in public | | | | virus should be put in isolation and virus |
| places. Other viral outbreaks have led to | | | | samples should be sent to WHO laboratories, |
| similar scenarios in North America in the | | | | the group said. |