Quebec health officials on alert for swine flu

Quebec's chief public health authority said the agency is on standby and ready to cope with any cases of swine flu that might appear in the province.

No case of the new strain of swine influenza virus that has appeared elsewherehas yetbeen identified in Quebec, but it is just a matter of time before one does, said Dr. Alain Poirier, director of Quebec's public health authority.

The virus is believed to have originated in Mexico, where it is suspected to havekilled more than 152 people since mid-April. Milder cases of the flu have appeared in Canada, the U.S., Europe, New Zealand and Israel.

'The important thing, like in other provinces, is to limit these first cases.' Dr. Alain Poirier, director, Quebecs public health authority

Precautions have been taken so health officials can treat and control the spread of the virus, he told reporters at a news briefing in Quebec City Tuesday. "We bought material; we produced information.We have vaccine exercises, even though we don't have the vaccine," he said.

"So, we have a lot of [measures]."

It is inevitable a case will show up in Quebec, Poirier added, but "the important thing, like in other provinces, is to limit these first cases."

Quebec has stockpiled antiviral medicine, masks and gloves for medical personnel.

The province has also fine-tuned its emergency plan, hatched during the bird flu scare three years ago, in case there is a surge of swine flu infections.

"We appear to be in control, and we are in control of the situation," said health minister Yves Bolduc.

Montreal on the watch for infections

Public healthofficials in Montreal are monitoring several people who have presentedflu symptoms, but say no one on the island has reported a full-blown infection of swine flu, whose symptoms include shortness of breath, cough, sore throat and fever.

"Right now, we've had about 20 or so alerts of possible cases, but most of those are not even severe enough to be considered suspect cases," said Terry Nan Tannenbaum, interim director of Montreal's public health department.

'One of the reassuring things is that the calls we're receiving are mild.' Terry Nan Tannenbaum, Montreal public health department

"One of the reassuring things is that the calls we're receiving are mild."

But the department is recommending people who have travelled to an area affected by swine flu, and who have afever or cough to call the province's Info-Sant (health information) line or their family physician.

Health officials in Quebec are expected to have an update on the swine flu situation in the province Tuesday afternoon.

Airlines take precautions

In light of the federal government's travel advisory for Mexico, airport authorities in Montreal are giving travellers returning from Mexico a detailed information sheet about swine flu and its symptoms.

Airline staff are fully briefed about risks and precautions that need to be taken, said Nathalie Stringer, regional vice-president for CUPE airlines division, (representing employees at Air Transat, Air Canada, Cathay Pacific, CALM Air, and First Air).

"Flight attendants get a couple of memos every day, [and] make sure to read over on-board procedures," said Stringer, who has worked as a flight attendant for 21 years.

If someone on a plane is coughing or sneezing, she said, "we have steps to follow, which we will do, then once we land, it's Health Canada and the airport that take over."

Crews flying in and out of Mexico City have also been advised to take additional precautions, such as frequent hand-washing, she said.

Some airlines may allow their flight crews and other employees to wear face masks, as many did during the SARS scare, Stringer added.

Travel moratorium for students, teachers at Laval University

In Quebec City, Laval University has declared a moratorium on travel to Mexico for students and teachers scheduled to go to the country for conferences or internships.

The moratorium, which also includes California, is a preventative measure, said Paul Naud, director of safety.

"We're worried about the level it's going to go within the next hours and days, so we just figured it's better to [make] this decision right now, and see what's going on before people take the plane," he told CBC.

As many as 30 students from the university were supposed to travel to Mexico this spring.