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By Terri Hansen
Environment and Science Reporter
Inuit Territory, Canada
For a flu that has thus far produced mostly mild disease, the high number and severity of A/H1N1 infection in Canada’s aboriginal and First Nation communities is sobering.
Canada, which to date has 5,710 confirmed H1N1 flu cases and 11 deaths, has given no indication of why the surge is occurring in indigenous communities.
The sharp spike of outbreaks in the predominantly Inuit territories drew alarm from the World Health Organization last week, with senior official Keiji Fukuda saying a disproportionate numbers of serious cases had unfolded in Nunavut and northern Manitoba communities.
Environment and Science Reporter
Inuit Territory, Canada
For a flu that has thus far produced mostly mild disease, the high number and severity of A/H1N1 infection in Canada’s aboriginal and First Nation communities is sobering.
Canada, which to date has 5,710 confirmed H1N1 flu cases and 11 deaths, has given no indication of why the surge is occurring in indigenous communities.
The sharp spike of outbreaks in the predominantly Inuit territories drew alarm from the World Health Organization last week, with senior official Keiji Fukuda saying a disproportionate numbers of serious cases had unfolded in Nunavut and northern Manitoba communities.
