More swine flu cases expected in B.C.: health authorities

Health-care officials in B.C.'s Lower Mainland have medical surveillance systems on high alert after two cases of swine flu were confirmed over the weekend in men who recently returned from Mexico.

An estimated 103 people are suspected to have died from the influenza strain in Mexico, but officials stress all six cases detected in Canada, including the two in B.C. and four other cases in Nova Scotia, are considered "mild."

Health officials said the two cases detected in B.C. were never hospitalized and did not require any treatment, but doctors did ask them to stay home and away from the public until they recover.

But Dr. Danuta Skowronski of the B.C. Centre for Disease Control said due to the enhanced surveillance, it expects more cases will be detected in the days ahead.

"We do expect there to be more cases and that's why we've got our surveillance system continuing on high alert," said Skowronski on Sunday.

Prepared for outbreak

Dr. Patricia Daly, chief medical health officer with Vancouver Coastal Health, said its emergency departments are on the lookout for severe respiratory illness and are prepared for any possible outbreak.

"We certainly are used to dealing with the spread of influenza," Daly said Sunday afternooon.

"We deal with it every season. Swine flu is a form of influenza. We also have response plans that we have developed, and ours is up on our website, for any kind of pandemic influenza."

"Now this, so far, has not been declared a pandemic, but officials are saying the potential is there, so we are discussing those to be sure we are ready," she said.

Concerns raised about Mexican agricultural workers

Meanwhile, as Canadian officials try to determine whether it is safe to allow thousands of Mexican farm workers into this country, the B.C. Agriculture Council is warning local farm owners to be on the lookout for signs of sickness.

Thousands of seasonal workers come B.C. to work on farms each spring, and there are concerns about farm workers spreading the illness, according to Garnet Etsell, chair of the B.C. Agriculture Council.

"Well we are going to be sending out notices to our growers just asking them to be aware of the situation," said Etsell. "And if there are issues… in terms of accessing the labour, to let us know. But more importantly, if they do see any signs of health issues, they contact public health right away."

Mexican and Canadian officials are meeting Monday to discuss the risks involved in letting an estimated 15,000 farm workers travel to Canadian farms in the next few weeks under the longstanding federal seasonal agricultural worker program.

Airlines accommodating travellers

As travellers return home from vacations, the disease has also been detected in the U.S. and Spain, along with suspected cases in New Zealand and France.

Air Canada and WestJet are both offering people with holidays booked to Mexico a chance to change their tickets without the normal penalties.

At the Vancouver International Airport on Sunday, quarantine agents were watching for travellers returning with flu-like symptoms, including headaches, muscle aches, a fever or cough.

But some travellers were surprised by the level of surveillance.

Hugo Ramirez flew home from Mexico, and was surprised he wasn't questioned.

"They didn't ask me about anything," said Ramirez. "They didn't ask me anything about the flu. They asked me about my legal situation. They didn't ask me anything about the symptoms or the flu."

Health officials are recommending anyone developing flu-like symptoms to rest and stay home. And, they say, if they don't feel better in a few days, they should contact a doctor.