Results of H1N1 Death Review Released

The Honourable Jerome Kennedy, Minister of Health and Community Services, and Dr. Faith Stratton, Chief Medical Officer of Health, today were joined by Dr. Simon Avis, Chief Medical Examiner, to provide the results of a review of H1N1 related deaths. Dr. Avis completed a review of 15 deaths of individuals who have tested positive for H1N1 to assess the role the virus may have played in these deaths. The review is separate from an ongoing evaluation of the continuum of care individuals received from the time they presented to a clinic up to and including the time of their death.

�I am pleased that Dr. Avis was able to complete this review in a short time period and I appreciate his commitment and professionalism,� said Minister Kennedy. �This review by Dr. Avis, supported by a team of medical specialists, will provide us with an accurate picture of individuals who have died primarily as a result of H1N1 infection. Because all of these individuals tested positive for H1N1 at the time of death, all deaths will be reported to the Public Health Agency of Canada for surveillance purposes. However, it is important that we are able to determine whether H1N1 was the primary cause of death.�

To date, the province has reported a total of eight deaths related to H1N1. The deaths were reported on an individual basis, when at the time of announcement the deaths were attributed to H1N1 infection. In addition to the eight deaths that have been reported to date, the Department of Health and Community Services has laboratory confirmation of an additional seven deaths of individuals who tested positive, either before or after death, for H1N1. All 15 deaths were examined by Dr. Avis to assess the role that H1N1 may have played in causing death.

The review process involved multiple components, including the following: a review of charts of the patients involved, a discussion of cases with the attending physician and a review of autopsy findings, including microscopic examination. Results of the review process conclude that of the 15 individuals who died and tested positive for H1N1, five of them died as a result of H1N1. The age of these individuals ranged from 29 to 58 years of age. Four of the individuals were female and one was male. The results of the review concluded that the other 10 individuals, who tested positive for H1N1 at the time of death, died from other conditions. The age of these 10 individuals ranged from 40 to 77 years, of which six were male and four female.

�It was important to perform this review as it helps the public and the medical community better understand the direct impact of the H1N1 virus, including the types of patients who unfortunately are at higher risk of having serious complications,� said Dr. Avis. �We were pleased to be able to provide this support to the department to ensure accuracy in reporting.�

Should there be any further cases of individuals who test positive for H1N1 at the time of death, they will also be reviewed by Dr. Avis and his team of medical specialists.

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) defines a H1N1 related death as a death occurring in any person with laboratory-confirmed pandemic (H1N1) influenza with no period of complete recovery between illness and death.

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Media contact:
Tansy Mundon
Director of Communications
Department of Health and Community Services
709-729-1377, 685-2646
tansymundon@gov.nl.ca 

2009 11 25                                                    3:05 p.m.