Toronto prepares for potential swine flu cases

There are currently no diagnosed cases of swine flu in Toronto, but the city is poised and ready to deal with incidents of infection – which the chief medical officer of health said are "very likely" given global travel patterns.

Dr. David McKeown, Toronto’s top public health official, Mayor David Miller and city manager Joe Pennachetti held a briefing yesterday on the planned emergency response to any cases of the new flu strain first detected in Mexico.

Right now, Dr. McKeown said, officials are focused on diagnosing any cases and "mitigation."

Four times during the live press conference Dr. McKeown and the Mayor repeated the best advice for Torontonians to avoid spreading germs or catching the flu:

– frequent hand washing;

– cover your mouth when coughing;

– cover your mouth when sneezing (Dr. McKeown demonstrated the fail-safe "sleeve sneeze";

– stay home from school, work or public activites if you feel flu symptoms;

– call your physician or Telehealth if you are experiencing flu-like symptoms and have recently traveled to Mexico, reporting both.

Dr. McKeown would not confirm any suspected cases of swine flu, but said the numbers are changing every hour as cases have been investigated and ruled out, and new investigations get underway. Global travel patterns are such that a case in Toronto is probably inevitable, but he said there is no need for panic.

"Toronto knows more than most cities what it’s like to go through an outbreak of respiratory infection," he said.

The Mayor emphasized that even though Toronto has yet to report a case of swine flu, the city and the public must remain vigilant.

"As of this morning, we have no cases in the city but that doesn’t mean we should let our guard down," Mr. Miller said. "Quite the opposite."

Mr. Miller said Toronto learned from the 2003 SARS outbreak and is poised and ready.

The city has stockpiled doses of Tamiflu and Rolenza, anti-retrovirals to treat health care workers, emergency personnel and city staff.

If the World Health Organization raises the global pandemic alert level higher than the current 4 or if a case is detected in Toronto, the city’s emergency response team, now at the ready, will mobilize, said Mr. Miller.

This includes a steering committee, a core planning committee and a stockpiling subcommittee.