Pandemic flu: lessons from the Toronto SARS outbreak.
A review of the severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak in Ontario in 2003 found that there had been several faults in healthcare services and that these had contributed to the spread of infection and the deaths of two nurses. This article argues that, six years on, these faults have not been rectified and that Ontario healthcare services may be unprepared for an H1N1 outbreak. The assistant deputy public health minister of Toronto offers her response.
Summers
Andy
A
Toronto General Hospital, Ontario.
D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000458:organization & administration; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000517:prevention & control; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009313:National Health Programs; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D011057:Politics; D017751:Safety Management / Q000458:organization & administration; D012648:Self Care; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*