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MSJfl 5 fl<ipenaent -hray A Metroland Community Newspaper NIE: 1! %LOO# 8oinm "Using Communication to Build Better Communîties" 878-2 Vol. 144 No. 76 Friday, December 5, 2003 By JASON MISNER The Champion A Halton child and a senior have died after contracting infuenza. The death of tse child, under Use age of 10, appears o be only the.second reported case of fatal influenza among Ontario children this year. and the feras ever such case in Halton. Late st monUs a Peterbough child died of flu-related symptoms. Due to privacy reasont, Halton Region's health department won't reveal Use sex or exact age of the child or of Use senior. HealUs officials alto won't reveal where in Halton Usey are from. "BoUs had pre-exitting medical conditions Usat put Usemn at a higher risk group," sald Mary Anne Carton, Halton's manager of communicable dis- easet, addissg Usere were no reported flu deaths here last year. "People at high ritk are more sus- -Chi*ld, senior succumb to fia virus strikes, it inflamnes the lining of the respiratory tract, resulting in symptoms ranging from fever, chills, muscle aches and bass of appetite to a sore throat and dry cough.. It turns deadly when the immune system, already weakened by flu, can't fend off bacterial infections sucb as pneumonia, bronchitis or ear and sinus infections. Meanwhile, the Region is waiting for test results from the National Microbiology Laboratory ln Winnipeg to detennine if any of the regional flu cases involved the new and potentially-deadly strain, called A Fujian. The A Fujian wasn't part of this year's flu vac- cine, which is designed to guard against three strains, including A Panama. Health officials say there are similarities between A Panama and A Fujian and the vaccine offert tome cross protection, and is another reason why the flu shot is being recommended. Normally a ame FLU on page 16 ceptible to complications of Use flu, iike pneumo- nia." As of press tine yesterday, Usere were nise cases of influenza A in Halton. Seven of themn are chul- dren under Use age of 10. This time st year Usere were six flu cases. Ms Carton tald Usere are no reported flu out- breaks in Halton so far this year. The paat four flu seamons have been mild, and many young children have flot had an opportunity to be exposed to influenza vinsses. The Region stressed it's even more important for kids over Use age of six months to get a flu shot. Said Ministry of Health spokesperson John LeUserby: "Regardiets of (a perton't) physical condition, Use flu shot is going to offer protection." Canadats annual flu deaUs toîl is estimated between 500 and 1,500 deaUs. When Use flu virus -T-?, ~ I -Please pitch in Flrefighters (from left) Paul Hoillngshead, Mait Smith and Marcel Foumnel, who's organlzlng mhis year's FIreflghters Food Drive, get reedy for tomorrow's big day. Firelightere wlll loin forces with local communlty volunteers ta col- lect food for the Salivation Army Food Bank. Tomorrow morning, residents are asked ta set out non- * perishabie food In the baga distrb- uted In last Friday's Issue of the Champion. The bage wiII then be SUP collected by travelling firefighters SUP and volunteers between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. If residents prefer, they Cen simpiy corne out when they hear fire vehicles In their neighbour- hooda and hand the donations to mhe volunteers. Fireflghters are stili weicomning volunteers for tomor- row. They shouid arrive et the cen- trai fire station on Steeles Avenue et about 8:30 a.m. to help. Photo by GRAHAM PAINE Health officiais urge people to getflu shot Comment...... 6-7 Dateline ....... 17 Sports ......23-24 Classifiled .... .30-32 A&E ....... ...Bi Real Estate...B2 w* *Mm"o. ~ ".ag* 0a o A " M ue .. C a g e . l m L m. SoIsyf HII ool * -Ca oe -,. Hmu Doçut Folure Uhop * a eaio 8kÊ * MS Coiqulouo SeimO meu only