22°c Partly cloudy
10°c Sunny
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Experts answer questions about flu, vaccine
MONTREAL -- What is fact and what is fiction when it comes to the H1N1 or swine flu and the vaccine?
Here are some questions and answers with Dr. Dalius Briedis, director of the clinical infectious diseases unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal and Ariel Fenster, a chemistry professor at McGill University who works with the school's Office of Science and Society.
Related Items
Can vaccine cause flu?
No, said Briedis and Fenster. And the H1N1 vaccine is 80 to 95 per cent effective.
Is H1N1 worse than the regular flu?
Not for most people. "Stay home if you have a cough and a temperature over 38C," Briedis said.
Without seeing a doctor how can I tell what I have?
A flu includes a fever (temperature of 38C or higher), shaking and chills, severe muscle aches and headaches, coughing and the incapacity to go to work, Briedis said.
H1N1 can also be marked by a shortness of breath "like someone is strangling you," said Briedis. If that is the case, seek medical attention.
Don't go to the hospital unless the symptoms, especially shortness of breath, persist.
How effective is handwashing against H1N1?
Ninety-five per cent of those who get H1N1 will get it from airborne droplets spread by infected people (likely through coughs), Briedis said.
"But handwashing is great at preventing so many other things that get you sick, like cold viruses."
What's the point of getting vaccinated if most people will be fine after a few days sick in bed?
"Good question," said Fenster. "The fear is that many people will get sick around the same time... Imagine if all at once there weren't enough nurses or bus drivers, for example."
When will people get it?
The flu generally has a six-week time frame to do its worst. Briedis said the H1N1 season is here, and it could last weeks or months longer than the regular flu season.
In the last 36 hours, Briedis saw five patients with H1N1 at the Royal Vic's ER. They were between the ages of 20 and 35.
-- Canwest News Service
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition October 28, 2009 A6
More Canada
- Back to Top
- Return to Canada
More Canada
(1 of 23 articles for today)
Alleged PQ election shooter waives preliminary hearing, goes straight to trial
5:54 PM 0MONTREAL - Quebec's alleged election-night shooter has waived his right to a preliminary hearing and will head straight to trial.
Richard ...
Poll
Most Popular Canada
- Baird takes the heat, Harper sheds little light on Senate spending scandal
- Toronto mayor stays silent about alleged crack video as Trudeau, Wynne weigh in
- Appointees to EI boards broke guidelines by making political donations
- Mother cries, yells as driver appears in court charged with killing boy on patio
- Former RCMP Musical Ride member sues, says colleagues dragged her through feces
- Canadian and American missing for nearly two weeks in Mexico
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Carney leaving Bank of Canada with country in a stronger position
- Harper leaves behind political storm in Ottawa, heads south for trade talks
- Driver charged after SUV smashes through restaurant patio, killing 2-year-old
- Crack-cocaine video allegations 'ridiculous,' Toronto Mayor Rob Ford says
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Harper to be on hot seat at Tuesday caucus after chief of staff quits
- Duffy bailout by Harper's chief of staff prompts allegations of coverup by PMO
- Baird takes the heat, Harper sheds little light on Senate spending scandal
- Duffy quits Conservative caucus over expenses as colleagues began turning on him
- Canadian and American missing for nearly two weeks in Mexico
- Toronto mayor stays silent about alleged crack video as Trudeau, Wynne weigh in
- Liberals blaze to stunning B.C. victory, but Clark loses own seat
- A look at the life and career of Ray Novak, prime minister's new chief of staff
- First-degree murder charge to be laid in test drive death; remains badly burned
- Multiple fatalities after serious crash near U.S. border
- Canadian tourist dies after falling from hotel in Mexican resort
- Crack-cocaine video allegations 'ridiculous,' Toronto Mayor Rob Ford says
- Engineer charged in mall collapse
- Arrest made in case of Hamilton, Ont., man missing after pickup truck test drive
- Leaving Saskatoon: police mourn homeless drunk they considered a friend
- Man with no arms plans to fight seatbelt ticket, wants apology from police
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Harper to be on hot seat at Tuesday caucus after chief of staff quits
- Appointees to EI boards broke guidelines by making political donations
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Canadian and American missing for nearly two weeks in Mexico
- Harper explores new Latin American trade bloc
- Canada's summer forecast: variable
- Toronto mayor stays silent about alleged crack video as Trudeau, Wynne weigh in
- Former RCMP Musical Ride member sues, says colleagues dragged her through feces
- Mother cries, yells as driver appears in court charged with killing boy on patio
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Duffy bailout by Harper's chief of staff prompts allegations of coverup by PMO
- U.S. bill would give Canadian snowbirds more time to spend in the sun
- Search on for living creatures far beneath Canadian Shield
- Quake near Ottawa rattles residents across wide swath of Ontario, Quebec
- Conservative senator Duffy claimed expenses while campaigning in 2011 election
- Grade 5 kids urge Harper to drop mean attack ads against Justin Trudeau
- Secret CSIS source, allied intelligence cited in high-profile terror case
- The Gretzky of Gretzky collectors
- Canadian and American missing for nearly two weeks in Mexico
- U.S. bill would give Canadian snowbirds more time to spend in the sun
- Foul fascination: Edmonton plant beautiful, but stinks like diapers, dead animals
- 'Revenge of the redheads': Ginger-haired Montrealers gather in celebration
- Man with no arms plans to fight seatbelt ticket, wants apology from police
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Suspects arrested in Via train terror plot linked to al-Qaida in Iran: RCMP
- Leaving Saskatoon: police mourn homeless drunk they considered a friend
- Commanding officer of Canadian Forces base in Alberta charged with sex assault
- Duffy bailout by Harper's chief of staff prompts allegations of coverup by PMO
- Engineer charged in mall collapse
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.