CTV EXCLUSIVE: Two quarantined at Lakeshore General after returning from Mexico
Updated: Sat Apr. 25 2009 2:15:47 PM
ctvmontreal.ca
Two Montrealers are under quarantine at the Lakeshore General Hospital in Pointe-Claire after vacationing in Mexico, CTV News has learned.
In a telephone interview with CTV Montreal’s Rob Lurie, hospital spokesperson Louis-Pascal Cyr confirmed that the patients were put in isolation as a precaution, because of a deadly swine flu outbreak in Mexico.
Health officials in that country are scrambling to contain a severe strain of flu that is believed to have killed dozens of people, and caused hundreds more to fall ill.
According to WHO spokesperson Gregory Hartl, at least 62 people have died in Mexico from severe pneumonia caused by the flu-like illness.
Mexican officials put the death toll at 68, with 20 confirmed to be linked to the new swine flu strain, known as A H1N1.
“Because of the guidelines sent out by the Health Ministry, we’re taking no chances with anyone coming from Mexico, and presenting with flu-like symptoms. Those people are being put in isolation for further investigation,” said Cyr.
“So far, we have no reason to believe that this is the swine virus, but we are investigating. There is a good possibility this is something more common,” he added.
Daughters speak out
Tanya Whelan, the daughter of one of the patients under quarantine, said her mother returned from Mexico in late march, and has been feeling sick ever since.
Whelan said her mother went to see a doctor, who informed her she had a virus that would eventually go away on its own.
Weeks later, she was still suffering from a number of symptoms, including respiratory problems and fever.
“She still felt very ill after having been on antibiotics. It’s been a month since she’s been home and her symptoms have not gone away,” said Whelan.
Tanya’s sister, Monica Whelan, said they were both surprised to learn that their mother was so sick.
“My mother never catches a cold, and she’s always very strong,” she said.
WHO convenes emergency meeting
The head of the World Health Organization has convened an emergency meeting at the agency’s headquarters to determine if it’s necessary to raise the pandemic alert level, as officials work to contain the deadly swine flu outbreak.
Margaret Chan cut short a visit to Washington and returned to the WHO’s Strategic Health Operation Center in Geneva, Switzerland, on Saturday, and was immediately briefed on the latest developments.
The strain has not been previously diagnosed in either pigs or humans and appears to spread easily from human to human.
More than 1,000 people in Mexico have fallen ill, sparking concerns of a pending public health crisis.
The mayor of Mexico City mayor has cancelled all public events for 10 days, in an effort to contain the swine flu outbreak.
Warning from Canadian health officials
An advisory sent by the Public Health Agency of Canada to health services across Canada warns that Canadians who have recently vacationed in Mexico should stay on alert for severe flu-like symptoms that could be connected to the respiratory illness that has surfaced in that country.
Anyone who has returned from Mexico within the last two weeks and is suffering the following symptoms should contact a physician:
fever
cough
sore throat
shortness of breath
muscle and joint pain
extreme fatigue
I've had it about 3 times so far...or once and didn't get over it til recently.
My aunt ended up in ICU, where she's been for the last two months. They did a trach on her and put her on a respirator. She still isn't well.
Some people have coughed for 2 months after recovering from it. The last time I had it, I had the cough and the coughs were some of the deepest and strongest I've ever had. I told my hubby jokingly that they started at the toes and worked their way up.