Windsor, N.S., hospital to open flu assessment clinic

Health officials are setting up a temporary flu assessment clinic at the hospital in Windsor, the location of Nova Scotia's four confirmed cases of the swine flu.

The clinic will open Wednesday morning at the Hants Community Hospital, where a nurse will assess patients to see if they have signs of the flu. If they do, they'll be tested and treated, health officials said Tuesday.

Dr. Gaynor Watson-Creed, a medical officer of health for Nova Scotia, said the clinic should alleviate congestion in the emergency room. In the last few days, the hospital has seen a 50 per cent rise in the number of people reporting flu-like symptoms.

Officials said there was no reason for people in Windsor to be "overly concerned."

"The individuals affected by the illness in Nova Scotia have experienced mild symptoms and are recovering. At this point, no one has been hospitalized," a government release said.

Of the four confirmed cases of swine flu in Nova Scotia, all are students at Kings Edgehill private school in Windsor. One of the students took part in a school trip to Mexico, where 150 deaths have been linked to the flu.

School officials said Monday that all four students have recovered, and the three students who were in isolation in Windsor have been cleared to leave.

Watson-Creed said health officials are watching 53 people who are all connected to the flu outbreak at the school.

There are no new confirmed cases of swine flu in the province. However, public health officials said Tuesday they expect to see more cases and, as the numbers rise, severe cases and even deaths.

Health officials said the clinic at the Windsor hospital will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day, though it could move elsewhere in the community if demand warrants.

Officials are reminding people throughout the province to:

• Wash hands.
• Cough into sleeves.
• Stay home when sick.
• Get a flu shot if travelling to Mexico.