Dr. Sidney Siu of Workplace Health at The University of Western Ontario expects the warmer weather will slow the spread of the H1N1 influenza virus, but warns this does not mean we are out of the woods yet.
“From my experience influenza doesn’t spread as easily in the warm weather,” says Siu, who is the chief medical consultant for workplace health at the university and member of Western’s pandemic planning committee.
Although the number of cases of H1N1 influenza virus continues to increase in Canada – the total number in Ontario was 187 as of May 15 – the severity of the virus appears to be mild, he says.
“Right now it seems to be reaching a plateau in Canada,” he says, adding the local health unit continues to monitor the situation.
Due to the nature of the virus, Siu says it may resurface in the fall with the return of cooler temperatures, as pandemics tend to spread in waves.
“I think we should always be concerned,” he says. “The new normal is to concentrate on hand washing and general hygiene.”
As the threat of an H1N1 influenza pandemic “plateaus,” Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada lifted its travel warning against non-essential travel to Mexico. Canadians are still encouraged to exercise a high degree of caution when visiting the country.
Likewise, the non-essential university-related travel restriction for Western faculty, staff and students has been lifted.
“Our H1N1 influenza planning committee has been closely following local, federal and international advisories and the non essential travel restriction to Mexico is no longer in effect,” says Elgin Austen, director of the Campus Community Police Service.
The travel warning was originally implemented based on the recommendations of the Public Health Agency of Canada. “In that context we felt it prudent to ask Western faculty, staff and students to follow those guidelines,” says Gitta Kulczycki, Vice-President (Resources & Operations).
Kulczycki says a few requests for information were made to Shelagh Bantock, Clinical Director of Student Health Services under the restriction; however no requests for consideration of travel to Mexico were made following the warning.
University officials continue to encourage the Western community to protect themselves against the spread of the virus by covering the nose and mouth area when you cough or sneeze and to wash hands often and use hand sanitizer. Those who are sick are encouraged to stay at home. Keep some distance between yourself and those who are ill.
The pandemic planning committee will continue to update advisories based on any changes with the virus. The updates will be posted on the H1N1 influenza microsite at https://communications.uwo.ca/influenza-microsite/.