Death of Ontario teen must be viewed in context of risks: medical officer

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By Jesse Robichaud
Times & Transcript Staff

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New Brunswick's chief medical officer, Dr. Eilish Cleary, urged parents to remain cool-headed in the wake of the sudden H1N1 flu death of 13-year-old Evan Frustaglio of Toronto.

Evan was an otherwise healthy hockey player whose condition deteriorated rapidly over the weekend. He died Monday. His tragic story evoked every parent's worst nightmare and left some panicked about how to protect their children.

Cleary said she couldn't comment specifically on the tragic death, but she said parents should stay calm in order to best protect their children and manage the risks related to the H1N1 flu.

"I'm a parent and I know people are really afraid. They want to do what's best for their children, and I don't think we should make parents feel guilty for making one choice over another," said Cleary.

"We're all doing the best we can, and it's important to be calm about it."

As members of Elsipogtog First Nation received immunization shots yesterday, Cleary said the H1N1 flu can be severe in some rare cases, but she said it is important to view the danger in a reasonable context.

"We know we have a serious disease out there," she said.

"We know that although most people who get the disease will recover without needing any medical intervention, a small subset of those do go on to (suffer) serious illness, and it is those cases in particular we are trying to prevent."

Cleary said that is why widespread immunization is such an important tool in the fight against H1N1 flu.

And although it is important to respect the potential severity of the illness by taking measures to prevent it, Cleary said news of Evan's death shouldn't push parents to pull their kids out of school or organized sports in cases when they wouldn't otherwise do so.

"There are many viral infections going around other than influenza, and we see influenza every year, so we think people should do as they do normally," she said.

"If a child has a bad flu, has high fever, they aren't going to be fit to play hockey anyway."

Cleary said common sense is imperative, and added that anyone who has a cold shouldn't necessarily abandon physical activity.

However, she said New Brunswickers shouldn't hesitate to seek medical attention if their condition worsens beyond mild illness. If mild flu symptoms grow more severe, or signs of pneumonia become evident, Cleary said a physician should be consulted.

"In general, the symptoms are similar to typical flu symptoms -- cough, fever -- however, when people start to get severely ill, it is usually with pneumonia," she said.

"The signs of pneumonia are increasing cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, sometimes difficulty in breathing."

Cleary said there will be enough vaccine to immunize all New Brunswickers, but she said it is important that high-risk groups, such as health-care workers, pregnant women and young children, be treated first. For example, First Nations communities are considered high-risk.

"There are a number of reasons for that; there is a high incidence of chronic diseases among some First Nations populations," said Cleary.

"There is also a higher proportion of young children and young adults, and so we feel it is very important to come and give them their vaccinations as soon as we can to protect them."

Cleary said yesterday's flu shot clinics in Elsipogtog were a major success in which 80 per cent of school children received the vaccine.

Chief Jesse Simon said it is crucial to dispel the myths and "garbage" he said people read on the Internet regarding the safety of vaccines.

"I try to eliminate any misinformation around H1N1 vaccinations," Simon said.

He said the living conditions and geographic isolation of First Nations communities means a unique effort is required in New Brunswick's largest reserve to avoid a flu-related catastrophe.

He said the H1N1-related deaths in Manitoba earlier this year provided a grim warning of the risks the H1N1 flu poses to unprepared communities. Simon said the Department of Health worked in co-operation with local health-care workers to organize yesterday's flu shot clinic.

"The way they worked with my health staff should be used as a template for all provincial and federal departments who deal with First Nations."

Grade 4 student Shadrach Simon, 9, wasn't very concerned about getting his shot yesterday, and afterwards he didn't report any problems.

"I wasn't scared," Shadrach said. "It kind of hurt, but not really. I've already had my flu shot before."

Another Grade 4 student, Sam Augustine, 9, wasn't fazed either.

"It was good," he said. "I wasn't scared."

In Fredericton, Premier Shawn Graham urged New Brunswickers to do the right thing and get the flu shot for themselves and those around them.

"We knew that this pandemic is here, we knew there were going to be deaths, but by taking preventative measures so we can minimize those risks to all New Brunswickers," said Graham.

"There may be individuals thinking today that 'I shouldn't take a vaccination,' but you're putting other people at risk by not taking that vaccination."

Graham said it is good to see people in high-risk groups showing up in large numbers at clinics, but he said the entire population must remain vigilant in order to contain the spread of the disease.

"The interest is there but, ultimately, the interest can't begin to decrease over the next few weeks. We need to keep New Brunswickers informed and we need to continue with a very intense vaccination program that today we're investing over $17 million in."

For his part, Graham said he will wait his turn for a shot just like other New Brunswickers who aren't considered high-risk.

"The health-care providers go first in the queue line along with younger children and identified people at risk," said Graham.

"As premier, I don't fall into that category. I'm like every other New Brunswicker. When the clinics are set up for older New Brunswickers, I'll follow in the queue line like everyone else."