News Release                   For Immediate Release

October 15, 2003

Is it SARS or is it Influenza?

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is a new disease that has had a devastating impact on our health care system and economy.  The dollar value still has not been determined.  There were more than 375 cases of SARS in Canada.  Forty-four people died, all of them in Ontario. 

Influenza affects 10% to 20% of the total population and kills between 500 to 1,500 people in Canada annually.  It costs $1 billion dollars in health care costs and lost work productivity each year.

So, what do influenza and SARS have in common? 

Both are acute respiratory illnesses.  Both can lead to severe forms of pneumonia, weakening the body’s defenses, leaving it open to other bacterial infections.  Some of these infections can be life threatening.

Both illnesses have similar symptoms.  It may be difficult to tell them apart. 

Both SARS and the flu can cause death.  However, influenza kills a lot more people every year than SARS has so far. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) is strongly recommending flu vaccination.  Ontario will follow this recommendation by launching a flu vaccination campaign to encourage everyone 6 months of age and older to get vaccinated.  The flu vaccine does not provide protection from SARS.  However, high vaccination rates may reduce the number of pneumonia cases caused by flu that might be mistaken for SARS.  This is significant as international health experts warn that SARS could make a comeback this fall as respiratory illnesses occur more frequently when the weather turns cooler.

Anyone with a high fever and respiratory symptoms, such as cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, could be identified as a possible SARS case.  All patients with respiratory symptoms will be placed in isolation.  Contact tracing and quarantine of close contacts may be necessary precautions.  This can result in considerable disruption of health services.  All of these measures are expensive and socially disruptive.  Influenza vaccination will decrease the number of pneumonia cases, thereby helping in the early identification of a true SARS outbreak.  Early detection is essential to keep the disease contained.

Prevention is the key.  Influenza vaccination will save lives, money and prevent our health care system from being even more overburdened.  This year, let’s all “beat the flu.”  Get your influenza shot!

For more information contact the Public Health Unit at 376-9420 or 1-800-263-3456 ext. 324, or visit our web site at www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca

-30-

Attachment:
Influenza Clinic Schedule  

For more information:
Susan Shular, Vaccine Preventable Diseases Manager
Public Health
376-9420 or 1-800-263-3456