Minister of Health Patty Hadju and Chief Public Health Officer of Canada Dr. Theresa Tam participate in a press conference following the announcement by the Government of Ontario of the first presumptive confirmed case of a novel coronavirus in Canada, in Ottawa, on Sunday.--cp photo Justin Tang
gslade@medicinehatnews.com@MHNGillianSlade
Alberta’s chief medical officer of health confirmed there are no cases of coronavirus in the province but declined to say how many people have been tested so far.
“The important number to know is zero probable, zero confirmed cases,” said Dr. Deena Hinshaw. “The number of cases being tested is not an indication of risk to the public.”
The lab tests, which involve a nasal swab, are being processed in an Alberta lab with results in one or two days. Samples could also be sent to the national lab in Winnipeg, said Hinshaw. Those being tested for coronavirus “are kept on isolation until results come back that are negative.” If someone does not need hospitalization “they are kept in isolation at home.”
Hinshaw says the symptoms for coronavirus are similar to influenza and it is someone’s “potential exposure” linked to travel, especially within the past 14 days, that could indicate the need to seek help.
“Albertans are still more likely to experience respiratory infection caused by a common virus such as influenza, which is in itself a serious infection. However, if anyone has specific concerns about being exposed, … I encourage them to call HealthLink at 811,” said Hinshaw.
Those with symptoms and a related travel history may have a lab sample taken while they are in their own home, if they do not require health-care services, and potentially avoid spreading the virus. The test results so far indicate influenza rather than coronavirus, said Hinshaw.
“Alberta Health and Alberta Health Services are working behind the scenes to ensure our health system is ready to respond effectively should we need to do so. We continue to test for the novel coronavirus in Alberta for people who may have been exposed to the virus through travel to” China or other areas where transmission is known to be occurring, said Hinshaw. Frontline workers have been given information about the virus and Alberta is working closely with the Public Health Agency of Canada to continue monitoring the situation.
Coronavirus infection does not automatically mean severe illness or death, said Hinshaw.
Alberta has a pandemic plan should the coronavirus reach that point but currently the spread of the virus outside China has been limited, she said.
“We still believe the risk to Albertans is very low,” said Hinshaw.
Alberta has no direct flights from China. Screening is being done at airports in Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto with direct flights from China, said Hinshaw.
The two confirmed cases in Ontario are travel related.
Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s top public health official, said the two diagnoses involve a married couple from Toronto who recently returned from Wuhan, the Chinese city at the centre of the global outbreak.
Tam still considers the risk of contracting the virus low in Canada, noting the two instances follow a reassuring pattern.
“Transmission of the virus is occurring among family members who have close and prolonged exposure to sick individuals,” Tam said in a teleconference. “Canadians should not be concerned that they can pick up the virus from an infected individual by any casual contact, such as walking through the airport or another public place.”
Tam confirmed the couple returned to Toronto on Jan. 22 after visiting China that included a stay where the strain of coronavirus is believed to have originated. The man showed signs of a mild cough on the flight, and he and his wife both disclosed their recent travel history upon landing at Pearson International Airport.
They had both worn protective masks during the journey back to Canada.
Tam said Monday the woman’s case is now awaiting confirmation at the national level, noting the lab(in Winnipeg) is currently testing 25 samples from multiple provinces.
The man is at Toronto’s Sunnybrook Hospital receiving treatment. His wife is in “self-isolation” at home, officials said.
Officials in China have reported the illness has killed at least 81 people and infected more than 2,750 others. Several countries throughout Asia, Europe and North America have also confirmed cases of the illness.
— with files from The Canadian Press
