The outbreak of SARS in 2003 taught us a hard lesson – we had to be better prepared for a potential influenza pandemic. Hence, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care along with key stakeholders developed a pandemic preparedness plan in 2004. Over the past five years, the Ontario Health Plan for an Influenza Pandemic (OHPIP) has evolved considerably through the input of over 400 experts representing all levels of government and a broad spectrum of health and emergency response professionals. The plan is continually improved and enhanced to reflect new knowledge and information, and tested to ensure our preparedness.

In Ontario, even before the WHO declared a global pandemic, the OHPIP was implemented. Ontario has shipped 700,000 doses (2.2m in total) of H1N1 flu vaccine to the province's public health units since October 21 in order to allow immunization clinics to begin.

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The H1N1 is a new version of the flu virus. It is spread from person to person, and causes the same symptoms as regular flu. H1N1 flu virus was first detected in Mexico last spring. Within just a few months, it spread to many countries around the world, prompting the World Health Organization in June to declare the first global flu pandemic in 41 years. The H1N1 flu virus has affected many Ontarians and this coming flu season it is expected to affect many more. The virus spreads like any other flu virus, mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing. People can become infected by touching objects or surfaces with flu viruses on them and then touching their mouth or nose.

Source: www.news.ontario.ca/