McGill Expert Alert: Mexican Swine Flu Outbreak
Pandemic fears rise as swine flu cases appear in new locations
Medical authorities in Ontario are investigating a number of cases of suspected swine flu that has caused more than 100 deaths in Mexico and spread to at least two other Canadian provinces, the United States and Europe.
Dr. Donald Low, medical director of the Ontario's public health laboratories and chief microbiologist at Toronto's Mount Sinai Hospital, told CBC News he suspects the cases will be identified in the next 24 to 48 hours.
"We're in a unique opportunity in history that we're watching, I think, a pandemic unfold," said Low, who provided regular updates to the public during the SARS crisis six years ago.
"I don’t think anybody's thinking that this is not across Canada."
Low's warning comes as more countries announced either confirmed or suspected cases of the virus linked to the outbreak in Mexico, which has reported more than 1,600 suspected cases so far.
SOURCE: CBC News at
McGill EXPERTS
Dr. Erin Strumpf is aÌý is a health economist and health services researcher with McGill's Department of Economics and the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health and can speak to the potential economicÌýimpact of the outbreak.
Dr. Amee Manges is an associate professer with McGill's Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health and the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and can discuss the epidemiology of viral outbreaks.
Dr. David Zadworny is an associate professor of molecular biology atÌýMcGill's Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Science, Department of Animal Science. He can discuss food-related concerns -- such as the safety of pork products -- related to the outbreak.