Can a Canadian die of Swine Flu?

Answer 1

Yes, unfortunately any one could die of the Influenza A, Novel H1N1 virus, especially if they have high risk factors.** It seems so far that, unlike a typical seasonal flu, people age 65 or older are less susceptible to this strain of virus, but the reason is not yet clear (probably immunity from exposure in past to a similar strain of virus).

As of the week ending March 13, 2010, since the beginning of 2010, only 10 hospitalizations and two deaths have occurred in Canada, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada (see link to website below).

Stats for 2009 pandemic cases and deaths from Public Health Agency of Canada:

A total of 8,537 hospitalized cases including 1,433 (16.8%) cases admitted to ICU and 418 (4.9%) deaths of Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 were reported to PHAC since the beginning of the pandemic. Among the 1,088 ICU cases who had detailed information regarding ventilation status, 58% (n=634) required ventilation. Core data was available for 8,053 (94.3%) hospitalizations, 1,433 (100%) ICU admissions and 414 (99.0%) deaths. Five of the 13 provinces and territories continued to report severe cases with Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 during the last week, however the hospitalized cases (18), ICU admissions (7) and deaths (2) were very low during week 1 compared to the previous weeks. The peak periods of reported laboratory-confirmed hospitalizations and deaths occurred from weeks 22 to 24 (May 31, 2009 to June 20, 2009) for the first wave and from weeks 43 to 45 (October 25, 2009 to November 14, 2009) for the second wave.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the US (CDC) have issued this list of the people at higher risk of more serious illness or death from Novel H1N1:

Persons at increased risk of severe illness from influenza (i.e. high-risk persons) include those groups at higher risk for severe illness from seasonal influenza, including: children younger than 5 years old; persons aged 65 years or older; children and adolescents (younger than 18 years) who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy and who might be at risk for experiencing Reye syndrome after influenza virus infection; pregnant women; adults and children who have pulmonary, including Asthma, cardiovascular, hepatic, hematological, neurologic, neuromuscular, or metabolic disorders, such as Diabetes; adults and children who have immunosuppression (including immunosuppression caused by medications or by HIV); and, residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities.