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CCNA BETTER NEWSPAPERS COMPETITION 2000 w w w .o a k v ille b e a v e r .c o m -- Speedy-- $2 9 99* ·M anufacturedt> yW ater · 100%alum inced sup erio rco rro sio n re sista n c e S e eM anager lor D e ta ils 112 Speere Rd.. Oakville dust w est ot Kerr) fro m Mufflers 'Shear' Madness! E ntertainment Cobras advance to national finals / S p o rts i m M e r c e d e s-B e n z A Metroland Publication Vol. 39 No. 61 WEDNESDAY, MAY23,2001 Halton planning for pandemic Region's Health Department doesn't know when it will hit but it's making an action plan to cope with patients By Angela Blackburn OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF H alton Regional Health Department offi cials don't know what it will be called, where it will strike or how many it will affect but when it does, they'll be ready. The `it' is a flu pandemic, otherwise known as a world wide flu epidemic. "Experts are predicting that another pandemic will occur, although the timing and pattern is unpre dictable," stated H alton's Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Robert Nosal in a report to Halton Region's Health & Social Services Committee last week. "It has been estim ated that in Ontario alone, up to 8 million people will be infect ed and 12.000 will die," reported Nosal. Dr. R obert Nosal: up to "The information comes 12,000 O ntarians likely from the World Health to die in pandemic Organization (W HO), the Centre For Disease Control in Atlanta, and Health Canada," said Halton's Manager of Communicable Disease Control Services Mary Anne Carson. Halton isn't waiting to find out. It's joining municipalities, like Peel, Hamilton and Niagara, as well as the provincial and federal governments, to get an action plan. Nosal and Carson are headed to regional council today to get the go-ahead. They'll be armed with a final report on last year's mass flu immunization program. The local health department figures it will take a year to create a pandemic plan. "Staff are asking council to support a pandemic influen za plan, especially given the disastrous outcome of not being ready," stated Nosal. Carson said that each year predictions are made as to the strain of flu that will strike. A pandemic brings an unexpect ed strain. Provincially, and regionally, there were far fewer cases of the 'flu this past winter, though officials can't say for sure if it was due to Ontario's mass immunization program. It couldn't have hurt though. Last winter, health officials aimed to immunize 90% of the population. That expanded on previous programs that immunized seniors, the chronically ill, health care and emergency work ers. Health officials went after another 60% of the population -- 260,000 people in Halton. It appears that Halton had one of Ontario's most success ful programs -- reaching 56% of the 60% goal. Last year's mass immunization cost $112,900. Shots were given at doctors' offices, hospitals, long-term care facilities, nursing agencies, private companies and pub lic health clinics from October to January. "Reports received from local hospitals could not con clude that the influenza campaign in 2000/2001 resulted in a reduction in the number of people seen," stated Nosal's report. Carson admitted that it was good experience in organiz ing mass immunization clinics -- the same type of activity that will be needed in the event of a pandemic. What is known is that the 'flu was different last year. The first reported cases came later and, Nosal reported, "the majority o f cases were in those under 20 years of age." "Virtually all influenza cases under the age of 40 were not immunized," said his report. Carson said health officials will target younger people next year. The flu vaccine is less effective in older folks, but while it may not prevent the illness it can make symptoms less severe. In 1999/2000, there were six local flu outbreaks -- in long-term care facilities, acute care hospitals or retirement homes. (S e e `S p a n is h ' p a g e A 2 ) Photo by Barrie Erskine SAY CHEESE: W e're told there are few things as stubborn as a camel but `Alice' a 5-vear-old Bactrian camel from the Gobi Desert in Mongolia lost no time in hamming it up for the photographer. She was on hand for the Herbie Charity Golf Tournament held Friday at Glen Abbey. For more photos on the event, see page A2. Block Parent program m ay have to fold A fte r 2 5 y e a rs here, lack o f v o lu n tee rs m ay s e e p ro g ra m By Howard Mozel OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF The Oakville Block Parent Program needs volunteers. If not enough caring individuals step forward, the initiative may be forced to fold. According to Joan O 'Connor, Pam Damoff and Laura Lee - three members of the current executive - there is no excuse not to sign up since there are no dues to pay and no meetings to attend. Best of all, the only thing the program asks of its volunteers is to place the red-and-white Block Parents sign in a window while someover over age 18 is at home and be will ing to help a fellow citizen in need. "In a town this size, it would be a shame not to run a program like this," said O 'Connor. Contrary to some nagging misconceptions, the Block Parent mandate is simple: to provide immediate assistance through a safety network and to offer supportive community education programs. Because of the familiar red-and-white Block Parent sign of a child holding an adult's hand, the program is associated mainly with lost, hurt or frightened children. Volunteers, however, could provide refuge for a teenager after a date's gone bad or a disoriented senior. Other misunderstandings are that Block Parents must let strangers into their home, break up fights or provide First Aid. They do not. Neither are they expected to provide food, toilet facilities or transportation or open their door to anyone they feel uneasy about. "You can say 'Stay on my porch while I call 911,'" said Lee, who explained that an active program also helps deter robberies and other criminal activity. The first Block Parent program began in London, Ontario in 1968 (1976 in Oakville) and has since expanded to encompass virtually (S e e ` P ro g ra m ' p a g e A 2 ) Trustees oppose private school funding By Dennis Smith SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Tax credits for private schools have drawn fire from the Halton District School Board. Trustees voted Wednesday to express their dis may with a new $3,500 provincial tax credit for pupils attending private schools. Milton trustee Erica Andrew proposed the board indicate its disapproval to the provincial government. "The initiative seriously undermines public education," she noted. Educators have estimated the move will divert $300 million in funding from public education. Andrew said the $3,500 private school tax credit saves the province money because it costs $5,600 to educate the child in (S e e `F u n d in g ' p a g e A 2 ) S P R IN G FLAVO URS: Jessica Gall, 12, bakes some cook ies over the open fire at The Thom as H ouse Museum on the weekend. The 1830s pioneer hom e officially opened for the season on the w eekend. It's open Tues.-Fri. from 1 p.m .-4 p.m . and Sundays and hol idays from noon to 4 p.m. Call has been working at the house over the past two sum mers. 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