N.W.T. confirms 1st swine flu-related death

A Northwest Territories man who has died of complications from the H1N1 flu virus did not get vaccinated for it, territorial health officials confirm.

The middle-aged man, whose name or home communitywas not released, was sick for about a day or so before he died last week, said Dr. Kami Kandola, the territory's chief public health officer.

"Tests have confirmed that he was H1N1 positive. This individual had chronic medical conditions," Kandola told reporters Wednesday in Yellowknife.

"He did not receive the H1N1 vaccine."

Heart condition

Kandola said the man's struggle with swine flu was likely complicated by the fact that he had a heart condition. He was not hospitalized, she added.

The man'sdeath is the first confirmed death related to the H1N1 virus in the Northwest Territories.

A Fort Simpson, N.W.T., man who died in September was suspected of having swine flu, but laboratory tests came back negative for the H1N1 influenza A virus.

The latest death also marks the second swineflu-related death in a weekin the northernterritories. A middle-aged woman who died Thursday in Whitehorse was otherwise healthy but also did not get the H1N1 vaccine.

More than 25,000 residents about60 per cent of the N.W.T.'s population havereceived the H1N1 shot since it was made available across the territory on Oct. 26.

Vaccines are still available at local health centres, according to the health department.

Virus still spreading

Despite the relatively high vaccination rate, Kandola said the H1N1 virus continues to circulate in the territory and can be dangerous particularly to vulnerable groups.

Kandola suggested that it's very important for people to get vaccinated if they are under the age of five, if they are pregnant, or if they suffering from diabetes, heart and lung conditions, obesity or kidney failure.

A total of about 50 people have been hospitalized with H1N1 infections in the territory.

Seventy per cent of those hospitalizations involved aboriginal people, Kandola said.

"In smaller communities, there are other factors: crowding, smoking, access to health care," she said.

"These could be contributing to the higher rate. This is something they've seen consistently across Canada."

Anyone needing information about the H1N1 virus can call the N.W.T. Health Department's flu information line at 1-888-920-3026 or Tele-Care at 1-888-255-1010.