Recently, there were an average of nine medics a day for people in Nunavut in need of emergency medical care.
About two weeks ago, that number jumped to 23 in one day, in part due to the “revival” of bronchiolitis and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
“You can imagine that this has put a significant strain on our resources,” said Dr. Francois de Wet, chief of staff at the Kikiktani General Hospital and territorial chief of staff at Nunavut’s health department.
Medical evacuations or medical evacuations are common in areas that rely on small public health centers that refer patients to regional centers or southern hospitals as needed.
But de Wet said it was not uncommon in the territory; rather, it is a return to normal business.
“One of the good things about COVID – if you can call it something good with COVID – was the fact that the number of sick children has dropped significantly during these two years of quarantine,” de Wet said.
Now that travel restrictions have been lifted and masks have been lifted, he says diseases are on the rise, especially respiratory ones.
“We have more people with lung and throat infections now again than in the last two years.”
That’s one of the reasons Dr. Michael Patterson, Nunavut’s chief public health officer, announced last week that the area would resume its RSV immunization program for vulnerable babies.
“We usually give it for a while and then, once the severity of the disease subsides, then we stop,” de Wet said. “But due to the fact that this year lasts longer than the previous one, we decided to consider restarting it again.”
Arviat struck hard
Some communities are particularly affected.
Between May 15th and 27th, the village of Arviat, Nuanwut, saw 16 medics, de Vet said.
He says this is not uncommon, given the large number of babies and young children in the community of about 3,000.
“It’s not an unusual number for this time of year. It’s just unusual compared to the last two years.”
Most medics are preventive, de Wet said. Children, especially, can be sent to a larger center if doctors or nurses worry about them.
Asked about the shortage of nurses that led to the closure of some health centers in Nunavut, de Weet said some residents may have noticed paramedics trained to diagnose and treat specific diseases working at the local health center.
He also points to the virtual program for practicing nurses, which allows patients to connect with nurses with higher education to diagnose and prescribe medication.
But, he said, his department is actively recruiting more nurses.
As for what people can do immediately to reduce the need for medical care, he says wearing masks is a good idea, especially for those who are ill.
He also said that people who are sick should stay at home instead of spreading the disease.
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