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Press release

Influenza Precautions – Level 2 in place at Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre today!

Sioux Lookout, Ontario - October 27, 2009 - Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre Vice President of Health Services, Barb Linkewich, announced today that Level 2 Precautions are being implemented immediately to prevent the spread of the H1N1 (or swine) influenza virus.

“The rapid rise in the number of people with flulike symptoms presenting at the hospital’s Emergency Department over the past three days means that we need to institute precautionary measures,” said Linkewich. “We have one confirmed case of H1N1 influenza virus to date.”

The following measures are now in effect and will remain until conditions warrant changing them.

1. Access to the two hospital sites and the Bill George Extended Care will be limited to a single entrance for each building. These entrances will be clearly identified.
2. Screening for flulike symptoms will be in place for everyone entering the buildings. Hand washing will be required by all. Staff will self screen for flulike symptoms and use good hand washing techniques.
3. The public is requested not to visit.
    
   Visitor restrictions will be in place limiting the number of visitors and who can visit. Only family visitors or immediate family of critically ill, palliative care, parent of an admitted child, visiting a patient whose death is imminent or attendance of a partner at the delivery of a child will be allowed.
4. All visitors will be required to wear masks.
    
5. Staff will gown, glove and mask when caring for patients with influenza and patients with respiratory illnesses.
6. Staff movement between William George Extended Care and the 5 th Avenue and 7 th Avenue Sites is restricted.
    
   NOTE: Staff movement between sites will not be restricted for staff who have been immunized, however, we are trying very hard to ensure that staff working at the 7 th Avenue and ECU sites have limited movement between sites.
    
   
7. All staff, physicians must be immunized for H1N1 influenza when the vaccine is available.
8. Access to all health care partners is restricted.

Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre strives to provide everyone with safe and high quality care.