Surveillance indicators continued to suggest low levels of influenza activity in the province. The proportion of patients presenting to sentinel physicians with ILI and Medical Services Plan claims for influenza illness both remained lower than expected for this time of year. Two ILI outbreaks were reported in schools in IHA; no influenza outbreaks were reported in facilities. At the BC Provincial Laboratory, one of 98 respiratory specimens tested was positive for pH1N1, while 49% (19/39) of specimens tested for other respiratory viruses were positive for RSV (7), human metapneumovirus (5), rhino/enterovirus (3), coronavirus (3), or parainfluenza (1). Of 62 specimens tested at BC Children’s Hospital Laboratory, none were positive for influenza, 18 (29%) were positive for RSV, 2 (3%) for parainfluenza, and 1 (2%) for adenovirus. Thus, currently, acute respiratory illness for which respiratory virus testing is sought in BC is more likely to be due to a non-influenza cause. Globally, pH1N1 continues to be the predominant influenza virus in circulation, with increasing contribution of influenza B viruses reported in recent weeks in China. Monitoring for possible seasonal/pandemic influenza resurgence in BC continues.
Find a link to the full report here.
Medical Services Plan
Influenza illness as a proportion of all submitted BC Medical Services Plan (MSP) claims remained low in the last week, consistent with the decrease over the past few months, within the expected range for this time of year, and bordering on the 10-year minimum. Proportions in all 5 RHAs remain below the historical medians. Graphs presented below include two indicators: one reflecting in-person physician visits only with influenza illness claims (black) and one reflecting influenza illness claims whether in-person visits or phone consultations (purple). For surveillance purposes, however, these indicators show the same trend.
Influenza Illness Claims* British Columbia
* Influenza illness is tracked as the percentage of all submitted MSP general practitioner claims with ICD-9 code 487 (influenza).
Notes: MSP week 27 Sep 2009 corresponds to sentinel ILI week 39.
Data current to February 2, 2010
Summary of hospitalizations and deaths
| Regional Health Authority | New Hospitalizations (Jan 12, 2010) |
Total H1N1 Hospitalizations |
New H1N1 Confirmed deaths
(Jan 12, 2010) |
Total H1N1 confirmed deaths |
| Fraser Health |
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360 | 17 | |
| Interior Health |
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234 |
14 | |
| Northern Health |
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44 |
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2 |
| Vancouver Coastal Health | 242 | 10 | ||
| Vancouver Island Health |
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152 |
|
12 |
| BRITISH COLUMBIA | 0 | 1032 | 0 | 55 |
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has produced Interim Guidance: Infection Prevention and Control Measures for Health Care Workers in Acute Care Facilities and Interim Guidance for Clinicians in Ambulatory Care Settings; available on the PHAC website. A PDF copy is provided for your convenience.
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Acute Care |
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Pre-hospital Care
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Long-term Care
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Ambulatory Care
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Closed Facilities
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Home Care
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Infection Prevention and Control Measures for Health Care Workers Providing Care or Service in the Home
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| Prevention Advice |
Best Practices in Workplace during Cold & Influenza Season
Organizational Risk Assessment |
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FAQ
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Creating and Implementing
an ECP training materials |
ECP Facilitator Manual
Implementing your ECP Facilitator Manual ECP Participant Guide Implementing your ECP Participant Guide ECP Powerpoint presentation Implementing your ECP Slides |
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Assessing and Controlling
Personal Risk training materials |
PCRA Facilitator Manual
PCRA Participant Guide PCRA Powerpoint presentation |
| Fit testing training materials |
N95 Respirator Fit Test Log
Fit Testing Facilitator Manual Fit Testing Participant Guide Fit Testing Powerpoint presentation Respirator Fact Sheet |
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BC Influenza Surveillance Bulletins: 2009-2010
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Ministry of Health
www.gov.bc.ca/h1n1/index.html |
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NIOSH-Approved Disposable Particulate Respirators (Filtering Facepieces)
www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/topics/ respirators/disp_part/default.html |
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Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)
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US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
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Workers Compensation Board of BC
www.worksafebc.com http://www2.worksafebc.com/publications/OHSRegulation/Home.asp |
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Updated Respirator Guidance See G8.40(2.1)(c)
WorkSafeBC has provided guidance for healthcare organizations to access alternative respirators during the pandemic. Please see the following link www2.worksafebc.com/publications/OHSRegulation/GuidelinePart8.asp#SectionNumber:G8.33 |
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World Health Organization
www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/ en/index.html |
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Public
Reminder
Posters |
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Handwashing
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