Post by Paddy by Grace on Sept 17, 2009 18:42:14 GMT -7
To me this is an ominous sign that the government is predicting a grim outcome. —Chief David McDougall, St. Theresa First Nation
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September 17, 2009
Bruce Campion-Smith and Richard J. Brennan
Ottawa Bureau
Toronto Star
OTTAWA–Federal health officials are scrambling for answers after native communities were shipped dozens of body bags as part of Ottawa's preparations for the onslaught of the H1N1 flu virus.
The disturbing news was taken by some as a grim prediction of the coming pandemic and undercut the message from federal health officials that most healthy Canadians have little to fear from the flu virus.
And it ignited a firestorm of protest from opposition politicians and native leaders, who have been outspoken in their concern that Health Canada has not done enough to prepare communities there for a possible pandemic.
"We asked for funding so we can get organized and to ensure medicine, hand sanitizers and other preventative kits were in place, but instead we are shocked to receive these body bags," Chief Jerry Knott, of the Wasagamack First Nation, located north of Winnipeg, said in a statement.
Chief David McDougall, of St. Theresa First Nation, which also received body bags, said: "To me this is an ominous sign that the government is predicting a grim outcome."
Liberal MP Todd Russell (Labrador), the party's native affairs critic, described it as "shocking and disturbing news.
"The minister should d**n well answer to First Nations and all Canadians. How can you trust a government that says it is prepared (for H1N1) and then sends in body bags?"
Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq called the shipments of body bags "very disturbing" and said she has asked a senior department official to investigate why it happened.
"I have ordered my deputy minister to conduct a thorough and immediate inquiry into the situation and I will continue to work with First Nations, provinces and territories to ensure all Canadians are informed and protected against H1N1," she said.
Aglukkaq, who said she found out about the body bags during a morning conference call yesterday with aboriginal leaders, was short on answers about why the shipments were made.
"Once I have more information, I can speak to that ... . But right now I'm asking the same questions you're asking me," she told a news conference yesterday.
David Butler-Jones, Canada's chief public health officer, shook his head at the news, saying body bags are "totally unnecessary."
Instead, he said every household should have supplies like soap, a thermometer, Tylenol, (acetaminophen) and hand sanitizers to prevent and treat the flu.
"When people do become ill, looking after the basic symptoms, for most of us, that's not an issue," he said.
He added that people should seek medical treatment for severe symptoms, especially shortness of breath and pain in the chest.
News of the body bags came on a day when the Public Health Agency of Canada released its priority list of groups it says should be first in line to get the flu vaccination when it's ready later this fall.
www.thestar.com/newsfeatures/swineflu/article/696950
Related:
H1N1 Looks Like "Avian Flu on Steroids"
H1N1 Patients May be Infectious 10+ Days
Vaccine to be Ready by Early October as U.S. Cases Spread
Health Expert Fears Vaccine will Come Too Late
Swine Flu Everywhere - map of N. America
Homeland Security Tells Businesses to Quarantine Sick Workers
Flu Already Widespread, Nearly All Swine Variety
WHO Warns of Severe Form of H1N1 Virus
Obama Panel Warns: Swine Flu May Kill 90,000
WHO Predicts 'Explosion' of H1N1
CDC: Blacks, Hispanics Four Times More Likely to be Hospitalized with H1N1
September 17, 2009
Bruce Campion-Smith and Richard J. Brennan
Ottawa Bureau
Toronto Star
OTTAWA–Federal health officials are scrambling for answers after native communities were shipped dozens of body bags as part of Ottawa's preparations for the onslaught of the H1N1 flu virus.
The disturbing news was taken by some as a grim prediction of the coming pandemic and undercut the message from federal health officials that most healthy Canadians have little to fear from the flu virus.
And it ignited a firestorm of protest from opposition politicians and native leaders, who have been outspoken in their concern that Health Canada has not done enough to prepare communities there for a possible pandemic.
"We asked for funding so we can get organized and to ensure medicine, hand sanitizers and other preventative kits were in place, but instead we are shocked to receive these body bags," Chief Jerry Knott, of the Wasagamack First Nation, located north of Winnipeg, said in a statement.
Chief David McDougall, of St. Theresa First Nation, which also received body bags, said: "To me this is an ominous sign that the government is predicting a grim outcome."
Liberal MP Todd Russell (Labrador), the party's native affairs critic, described it as "shocking and disturbing news.
"The minister should d**n well answer to First Nations and all Canadians. How can you trust a government that says it is prepared (for H1N1) and then sends in body bags?"
Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq called the shipments of body bags "very disturbing" and said she has asked a senior department official to investigate why it happened.
"I have ordered my deputy minister to conduct a thorough and immediate inquiry into the situation and I will continue to work with First Nations, provinces and territories to ensure all Canadians are informed and protected against H1N1," she said.
Aglukkaq, who said she found out about the body bags during a morning conference call yesterday with aboriginal leaders, was short on answers about why the shipments were made.
"Once I have more information, I can speak to that ... . But right now I'm asking the same questions you're asking me," she told a news conference yesterday.
David Butler-Jones, Canada's chief public health officer, shook his head at the news, saying body bags are "totally unnecessary."
Instead, he said every household should have supplies like soap, a thermometer, Tylenol, (acetaminophen) and hand sanitizers to prevent and treat the flu.
"When people do become ill, looking after the basic symptoms, for most of us, that's not an issue," he said.
He added that people should seek medical treatment for severe symptoms, especially shortness of breath and pain in the chest.
News of the body bags came on a day when the Public Health Agency of Canada released its priority list of groups it says should be first in line to get the flu vaccination when it's ready later this fall.
www.thestar.com/newsfeatures/swineflu/article/696950