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April 27. 2009 - The Thunder Bay District Health Unit is working with provincial and federal public health agencies to monitor the global human swine influenza crisis.  At this time, there are no local cases in Thunder Bay and District.  In the province of Ontario, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care is currently investigating a small number of related cases.

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has not issued a travel advisory for Mexico but is recommending the public take the necessary precautions to avoid contracting and/or transmitting influenza.   This includes the same precautions as for seasonal influenza – getting an annual flu shot, washing hands frequently, covering coughs and sneezes and staying home when ill. 

Canadians that have returned from Mexico and are experiencing respiratory symptoms, particularly high fever, should contact their health care practitioner and advise them of their travel history.

Swine influenza (sometimes called swine flu) is a strain of the influenza virus that usually affects pigs, but which may also make people sick. Human swine influenza is a respiratory illness that causes symptoms similar to those of the regular human seasonal flu.  The symptoms include fever, fatigue, lack of appetite, coughing and sore throat.  Some people with human swine influenza have also reported vomiting and diarrhea.

For more information on human swine influenza, the public can visit the PHAC website at phac-aspc.gc.ca  Up-to-date travel notices and advisories are available on the PHAC website under “travel health”. The Health Unit will also post regular updates from PHAC on this website.

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