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:' ; LW lliilâlfiïiÏT'iu-TH; I www.durhamrcgion.com THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, DECEMBER 17,2003 PAGE A7 SARS and flu would be tough to swallow Isolation rooms already full due to influenza BY CARLY FOSTER Staff Writer DURHAM - -ewer isolation eases could pose a huge problem if Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome were to return. Because anyone with respiratory illness symptoms - including cough, lever, chills and muscle aches - has to be quarantined, isolation rooms in Durham are already full due to influenza. influenza. rooms as a result of an increase in flu At press time. Durham had 52 confirmed cases of influenza, with more than a dozen at Lakeridge Health Corporation's five sites. Rouge Valley Health, Ajax-Pickering hospital could not provide the number number of cases at press time. "The big problem is there's no way to differentiate SARS from influenza: influenza: Both start up with fever, chills and cough," said Dr. Ian Kitai Hospitals being hit hard with flu of Rouge Valley. "And now, with our heightened precautions, we are immediately immediately putting people in isolation." isolation." Added to that is the lengthy time it takes to get both flu and SARS test results back, which make stays in isolation isolation even longer. Dr. Kitai said. And should SARS strike again, the season is still young; the outbreak didn't occur until March. While a double whammy of flu and SARS would hit Durham hard, there are no worries at the moment, said Dr. Don Atkinson, chief of staff for Lakeridge. "Any other infectious disease present present at the same time would be a problem, but there is absolutely no evidence of SARS." he said. "It truly is related to influenza A." That's why getting a flu shot is so important, Dr. Kitai said. "If you're immunized, you're much less likely to have influenza, or turn up in emergency wards," he said. HOSPITALS from page 1 already ill - which makes our patients vulnerable," he said. Plus, those bringing in sick patients have obviously been exposed to the flu and could also spread it. Dr. Atkinson added. Staff and physicians in emergency rooms will also be wearing masks, Lakeridge Lakeridge and Rouge Valley officials said. Anyone admitted to hospital with respiratory infection-like symptoms - including headache, coughing, chills and fever - is automatically put in an isolation room, but those rooms are bursting at Lakeridge and Rouge Valley. "Our isolation rooms are full and it is causing some back pressure on the emergency room with patients waiting for beds." Dr. Atkinson said. That, combined with increased call volumes, is causing longer wait times, said Marg Zwicker, who manages the emergency room in Ajax. "You can expect the long waits, unfortunately," unfortunately," she said, adding most people people wait for one to two hours but last weekend it was "a lot longer." Of the 133 patients the emergency department department saw at Rouge Valley this weekend, 39 had flu-like symptoms, Ms. Zwicker said. Lakeridge Health Oshawa, Bow- manville. Port Perry and Uxbridge are also experiencing "higher than normal patient volumes." a press release said. With more than 10 flu cases, Oshawa is restricting visitors to one for each critically critically or terminally ill patient, palliative care patient and child while in the emergency emergency room. Hospitals arc encouraging people to self-assess at home, visit their family doctor or clinic or call Telchealth Ontario Ontario (1-866-797-0000) before coming to the emergency room. "Hospitals, as a whole, are just being very, very cautious," said Ms. Cronin- Wood. "We're watching other hospitals, the community, Toronto, even in the Stales. "We have a real responsibility to protect protect everybody." The health department has also extended extended its Hu vaccine clinic at 1615 Dundas St. E. at the Whitby Mall until Dec. 19. Call 905-723-8521, toll free 1- 800-841-2729 or visit www.region.durham.on.ca. Hotel/Conference centre HOTEL from page 1 also said investors have been interested in placing a hotel in Bowmanville, especially when ITER was still a possibility for the area. . "But the demand is still there now," said Mayor Mutton. "We've got 90 per cent of the tourist locations in Durham Region. When they hold the American LeMans in Mosporl, people people can't find accommodations." accommodations." Councillor Jim Schell agrees the area needs the facility. "The area often hosts banquets and sports tournaments," tournaments," he said. "It's difficult when you have teams coming in from far away." Y' getting its kicks DURHAM - The second annual YWCA of Durham Women's Indoor Soccer Tournament kicks off Jan. I0. ' The tournament starts at 8 a.m. at YWCA of Durham Family Programs Centre, with each team guaranteed three 40-minute games. Prizes will be awarded to top teams. The fee is $200 per team or $20 per person, and all proceeds will benefit the Family Programs Centre. The deadline to register is Jan. 7. For more information or to register, call the YWCA Family Programs Centre, l McGrigor St., at 905-723- 9922 or e-mail lamily@yw- caoshawa.org. Annual Durham Riding Levee Sunday, January 11 th, 2004 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Trillium Trails 53 Snowridge Court (Just north of Raglan, off Simcoe Street N.) Everyone Welcome! To Everyone in Durham Riding... lEflw 3 Merry Christmas and 1 Warm Wishes throughout the New Year. John O'Toole, MPP Durham Constituency Office: 75 King St. E. 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These ads are our way of sharing the views of the Union whose members are involved in generation, transmission, distribution, regulation and maintenance of almost all of Ontario's electricity system. Since 1993, electricity prices have steadily lost ground to inflation and there's been very little investment in the infrastructure. That has to change -- soon. The investment money needs to be spent wisely on: Rehabilitation and upgrades of existing generation, transmission and distribution systems. Spend the money. Wisely. Existing generation facilities can be made cleaner and more efficient. Lines already in place can be upgraded to carry more load. New facilities. Much of the reliability we enjoy in Ontario is a result of large, strategically located generation stations able to provide vast quantities of electricity on a regular basis, for both base load and peaks that happen every day and in the middle of summer and winter. Educating consumers about smart electricity use. We all have a role to play in making sure that every kilowatt of electricity generated is used in the best way possible. POWER WORKERS' UNION Don MacKinnon, President