Friday, April 24, 2009

Mexican outbreak prompts travel advisory

April 24, 2009

Federal health officials warned Canadians in Mexico Thursday to take commonsense health precautions against the flu, after 20 Mexicans were confirmed dead from an unknown respiratory illness.

However, the Public Health Agency of Canada stopped short of suggesting travellers shun the popular tourist destination altogether.

"It would be excessive in our view to close borders," said Dr. Danielle Grondin, assistant deputy minister of health, even as she confirmed the health agency has issued a travel advisory and raised its surveillance-alert level because of the Mexican reports.

Earlier this week, the agency also warned provincial health authorities and quarantine officers to watch for signs of the influenza-like malady among returning travellers.

Since March 18, Mexico has reported 137 cases of the respiratory illness in previously healthy adults aged 25 to 44. Some cases are thought to be influenza A and B. But at Mexico's request, the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg is testing more than 50 samples from infected Mexican residents to try to identify the virus.

"The situation in Mexico at present poses no health concerns for the general Canadian public," Grondin said. One Canadian -- from Ontario -- returned from Mexico with a severe respiratory infection March 22, but the person "has since fully recovered," she said.

Ontario public health officials are reviewing about 10 cases of individuals who returned from Mexico with respiratory illnesses, but say they have found nothing to link them to the outbreak in that country.

The deaths have raised fears of a SARS-type illness that might be transmitted across borders. In 2003, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, originating in China, killed 44 Canadians. Grondin said there is no evidence so far that the disease is like SARS.

Dr. David Williams, Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health, said health officials want doctors to notify them of anyone who has been to Mexico and sought treatment for flu-like symptoms.

"One of the things we've done since SARS, instead of being complacent, we're much more aggressive at going after all these (cases)," he said.

Williams said he always advises people to get the flu vaccine, and anyone travelling to Mexico should be aware it has a late influenza season this year.

"Influenza A, as we've always said, is not to be taken casually."

Dr. Arlene King, who will become Ontario's new chief medical officer of health on June 15, said the outbreak is being closely monitored by national and international public health officials.

King, the current director general of the Centre for Immunization and Respiratory Infectious Diseases at the Public Health Agency of Canada, said, "I would go to Mexico," when asked by reporters if people should fear travel to the country.

Added Grondin: "We cannot say to Canadians to not go there. We informed them there is an increased trend of severe respiratory illness of unknown cause.

"It is for Canadians, knowing the risk, to make their decision."

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