Canada: A/H1N1 hospitalizations, deaths up three-fold

Hospitalizations, intensive-care unit admissions, and deaths caused by A/H1N1 flu in the last week of October was three times over the previous week as infections continued to surge across the country, David Butler-Jones, Canada's chief public health officer, said Thursday in Ottawa.

David Butler-Jones expected the flu activity this fall to run over the peak of its first wave in June.

"We expect to hear of more illness and deaths in the coming weeks as we go further into the second wave," he said.

The Public Health Agency of Canada reported that as of Nov. 3 the A/H1N1 flu had killed 101 people. More than 1,700 people have been hospitalized since the A/H1N1 virus appeared in April.

Vaccination for the public pushes ahead, but some places are now struggling with shortage of vaccine. More than 6.5 million doses of the H1N1 vaccine will be delivered to provinces and territories by Friday, with 1.8 million doses available next week, Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq said.

Canadian provinces began rolling out their immunization programs on Oct. 26. Vaccination has been first offered to people most vulnerable to infections including pregnant women, people with chronic conditions and young children.

Source: Xinhua