TRURO - Most of the people being treated at Truro's temporary assessment clinic are believed to be suffering from the H1N1 virus.
"The majority of the cases they are seeing, they believe are H1N1," said Krista Wood, spokeswoman for the Colchester East Hants Health Authority, regarding an assessment clinic established Saturday to prevent people believed to have the flu - either seasonal
or H1N1 - from seeking help at the
emergency department of the Colchester Regional Hospital.
The clinic was set up to help reduce demand at the emergency department because of the high number of people attending there with flu-like symptoms.
"That's where we want them to go," Wood said, unless a person is experiencing trouble breathing or other severe symptoms
(chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, severe vomiting in children, high fever and confusion) in which case, they should go to the hospital.
During the first two days of the assessment clinic, 86 people were seen, Wood said. Just prior to the start of Monday's clinic, another 60 people were waiting in line.
The sickest and those most at risk for contracting H1N1 who show up with flu-like symptoms, can receive the Tamiflu anti-viral medication.
While people can anticipate lineups, Wood said, they can also expect to be treated at the clinic faster than at the hospital.
Vaccination clinics held in Truro and East Hants last week saw a total of 7,500 doses being administered.
Those clinics continue today (see clinic facts below).
The next move, to be decided within the next couple of days, is whether to restrict hospital visitations.
"We're really hoping that people just practice some common sense and try and stay away from visiting if they're not feeling well," Wood said. "If you have someone in the hospital and you are not feeling well, you actually are not doing them any favours by coming to see them."
A shortage of the H1N1 vaccine has also resulted in high risk groups and individuals being given priority in receiving their shots.
Those with priority status include: pregnant woman; children younger than age 5; people living in First Nations communities; health-care workers; long-term care residents and staff and home-care agency staff; doctors; nurses; pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.
Clinic treating suspected H1N1 cases
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Comments
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- Sheila
- - March 1st, 2010 at 14:40:11
First nations people live in communities yes but,its about being clean and following direction ,how does that make them any more priority than us. Doesn't matter how many people live in a house as long as you follow the directions given to all of us by various means ,talk about discrimination , you as a goverment teach it to us by acts like this. our children and our families are just as important and need the protection too.
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- Sam
- - March 1st, 2010 at 14:40:07
Someone at some point somewhere decided that since first nations people live in more of a communal living situation they are more at risk. Also, when the second wave of H1N1 started it hit many first nations communities rather hard which is why they are on today's at risk list .
Wait until tomorrow, the flavour of the day at risk list may change and they may get knocked off and people like prison guards may be added to the list. Who knows. -
- Mary
- - March 1st, 2010 at 14:40:00
To Ganita Van Tassell:
First Nations People are deemed higher risk than others and are flagged as priority status which is why they are supposed to get the vaccine first along with other priority status groups. -
- garnita
- - March 1st, 2010 at 14:39:52
i agree with babies and health care workers getting vaccine first but why first nations people? are they more important than any one else or at higher risk than others?
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- Just
- - March 1st, 2010 at 14:39:29
Really if people Could Listen and follow instructions from the educated people such as doctors etc these line ups would not be of issue . I cant beleive now its become a screaming match for discrimination are you for real? Do you have any idea how fast something could wipe out any tight knit comunity such as Millbrook? I dont care what race or creed your going to have to wait your turn bottom line ! The whole thing is about Listening to what the doctors and what WHO are saying trying to stop the spread stay home wait your tun never mind the poor me's this is how it is the way it is going to be so buckle down people we are going into a situation where we have no control thats the real issue here . I have to say this is a very good way to sit back and see how simple people are really. So you go stand for hours in the cold & rain whatever the weather and enjoy if your not in the in these high risk areas listed then STAY HOME CALL YOUR DOCTOR MAKE AN APPOINTMENT OR WAIT FOR YOUR TURN WHEN THE PEOPLE WHOM TRULEY NEED IT ARE FINISHED.
