Abstract
In March and April 2009, pandemic H1N1 2009 influenza A virus (pH1N1 2009) emerged among residents of and travelers to Mexico, the United States and Canada. During the 2009 pandemic, cases of pH1N1 2009 infection were reported from over 214 countries, with at least 18,449 recorded deaths. In Canada, over 8,500 cases were hospitalized, 16.8% of which required intensive care. A particularly concerning occurrence was the spread of pH1N1 2009 into First Nations communities in Canada. Although Aboriginal peoples constitute only 3.8% of Canada’s population, members of the First Nations were 6.5 times more likely to be admitted to an ICU with pH1N1 2009 influenza than non-First Nations, and had rates of hospitalization nearly triple that of the national cumulative crude rate for all Canadians. We herein provide a succinct review of our current understanding of the risk of influenza among First Nations populations in Canada.
Résumé
En mars et avril 2009, le virus de la grippe pandémique A-H1N1 de 2009 (pH1N1 2009) s’est manifesté chez des résidents du Mexique, des États-Unis et du Canada et chez des voyageurs dans ces pays. Durant la pandémie de 2009, des cas d’infection à pH1N1 2009 ont été déclarés dans plus de 214 pays, avec au moins 18 449 décès enregistrés. Au Canada, plus de 8 500 cas ont été hospitalisés, dont 16,8 % aux soins intensifs. La propagation du virus pH1N1 2009 dans les communautés des Premières nations du Canada a été particulièrement inquiétante. Les Autochtones ne constituent que 3,8 % de la population canadienne, mais les membres des Premières nations étaient 6,5 fois plus susceptibles d’être hospitalisés aux soins intensifs en raison de la grippe pH1N1 2009 que les non-membres des Premières nations, et leurs taux d’hospitalisation étaient près de trois fois supérieurs au taux brut national cumulé pour l’ensemble des Canadiens. Nous présentons une brève analyse de l’état actuel des connaissances sur le risque de grippe dans les populations des Premières nations au Canada.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
References
World Health Organization. Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 - update 112. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO, 2009. Available at: http://www.who.int/csr/don/ 2010_08_06/en/index.html (Accessed December 7, 2010).
Public Health Agency of Canada. FluWatch–April 25, 2010 to May 1, 2010 (week 17); September 20, 2009 to September 26, 2009 (week 38); October 25, 2009 to October 31, 2009 (week 43). Available at: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/fluwatch/09-10/index-eng.php (Accessed December 7, 2010).
Kumar A, Zarychanski R, Pinto R, Cook DJ, Marshall J, Lacroix J, et al. Critically ill patients with 2009 Influenza A(H1N1) infection in Canada. JAMA 2009;302:1872–79.
Webster D, Weerasinghe S, Stevens P. Morbidity and mortality rates in a Nova Scotia First Nations community, 1996–1999. Can J Public Health 2004;95:369–74.
MacMillan HL, MacMillan AB, Offord DR, Dingle JL. Aboriginal health. CMAJ 1996;155:1569–78.
Mao Y, Morrison HI, Semenciw RM, Wigle DT. Mortality on Canadian Indian reserves 1977-1982. Can J Public Health 1986;77:263–68.
Morrison HI, Semenciw RM, Mao Y, Wigle DT. Infant mortality on Canadian Indian reserves 1976-1983. Can J Public Health 1986;77:269–73.
Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. Basic departmental data, 2001. Ministry of Public Works and Government Services Canada, Cat. #R12-7/2001E. Available at: http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/webarchives/20071214083001/http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/pr/sts/bdd01/bdd01_e.pdf (Accessed January 21, 2010).
Marrie TH, Carriere KC, Jin Y, Johnson DH. Hospitalization for community-acquired pneumonia in Alberta First Nations Aboriginals compared with non-First Nations Albertans. Can Respir J 2004;11:336–42.
Evers SE, Rand CG. Morbidity in Canadian Indian and non-Indian children in the first year of life. CMAJ 1982;126:249–52.
Houston CS, Weiler RL, Habbick BF. Severity of lung disease in Indian children. CMAJ 1979;120:1116,1119,1121.
Richardson R, Yacoub W, Kresowaty J. Mass immunization roll out of pH1N1 and seasonal influenza immunization in Alberta First Nations. Can J Infect Dis Med Microbiol 2010;21(4):174, Abstract P159.
Banerji A, Bell A, Mills EL, McDonald J, Subbarao K, Stark G, et al. Lower respiratory tract infections in Inuit infants on Baffin Island. CMAJ 2001;164:1847–50.
Banerji A, Greenberg D, White LF, Macdonald WA, Saxton A, Thomas E, et al. Risk factors and viruses associated with hospitalizations due to lower respiratory tract infections in Canadian Inuit children. Ped Infect Dis J 2009;28:697–701.
Herbert FA, Mahon WA, Wilkinson D, Morgante O, Burchak EC, Costopoulos LB. Pneumonia in Indian and Eskimo infants and children: Part I. A clinical study. CMAJ 1967;96:257–65.
Zarychanski R, Stuart TL, Kumar A, Doucette S, Elliott L, Kettner J, et al. Correlates of severe disease in patients with 2009 pandemic influenza (H1N1) virus infection. CMAJ 2010;182(3):257–64.
Massey PD, Pearce G, Taylor KA, Orcher L, Saggers S, Durrheim DN. Reducing the risk of pandemic influenza in Aboriginal communities. Rural Remote Health 2009;9:1290.
Turpin M, Laderoute I. H1N1 vaccine campaign a tremendous success: Lessons learned. Can J Infect Dis Med Microbiol 2010;21(4):173, Abstract P155.
Vannberg FO, Chapman SJ, Hill AVS. Human genetic susceptibility to intra-cellular pathogens. Immunol Rev 2011;240:105–16.
National Advisory Committee on Immunization. Statement on seasonal tri-valent inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV) for 2010–2011. Can Commun Dis Rep 2010;36:1–49. Available at: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/publicat/ccdr-rmtc/10pdf/36-acs-6.pdf (Accessed December 7, 2010).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Conflict of Interest: None to declare.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Boggild, A.K., Yuan, L., Low, D.E. et al. The Impact of Influenza on the Canadian First Nations. Can J Public Health 102, 345–348 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404174
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404174