ALLISTON, ON. - Stevenson Memorial Hospital (SMH) has been screening patients for Febrile Respiratory Illness since 2003. After receiving the first notification about Swine Influenza A H1N1 cases in Mexico on Wednesday, April 22, 2009, SMH took immediate action to increase routine surveillance measures to include screening for Severe Respiratory Illness.

Stevenson Memorial continues to use this heightened surveillance for flu-like symptoms. Staff leaders are meeting regularly and are prepared should the phase of Pandemic Alert be raised by the World Health Organization.

To date, there have been no confirmed cases of Swine Influenza A (H1N1) at SMH. One patient did present with flu-like symptoms and a history of travel. Testing of that patient’s swabs is taking place and the patient is now resting at home.

 The routine delivery of patient care is not affected. Members of the public that have a test, clinic visit, or surgical operation scheduled at Stevenson in the days ahead, are advised that it is safe to proceed as scheduled. However, SMH does require that all persons follow the instructions posted at all entrances and frequently perform hand washing on entering or exiting the hospital and the patient’s rooms. Persons feeling unwell on the day of their appointment should call the area they are scheduled to visit for further instructions.

 Anyone coming to the Emergency Department who is exhibiting signs of flu-like symptoms is asked to wash their hands, immediately put on a mask and then immediately notify the Registration Desk or the nurse.

People who are ill should not be visiting patients.

 Updates relating to incidents of Swine Influenza A (H1N1) will be posted regularly on the Hospital’s website at www.smhosp.on.ca and recorded on the Hospital’s SRI Hotline at 705-434-5160.

 The public can obtain information on SRI/Swine Influenza A (H1N1) by calling Simcoe Muskoka’s Health Unit at 705-721-7520, extension 8809. For general information on SRI/Swine Influenza, the hospital recommends the following trustworthy websites.

·         World Health Organization at http://www.who.int/en/

·         Community and Hospital Infection Control Association at http://www.chica.org/

·         Centre for Disease Control and Prevention at http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/

·         Public Health Agency of Canada at http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/index-eng.php

·         Pan American Health Organization at http://new.paho.org/hq/index.php?lang=en