Knock on wood

Health officers in Nova Scotia are indicating that, thus far this winter, the flu season has been ‘quiet.’ Only one confirmed case of the flu virus has even been reported in the province.

While I’ve heard of kids coming down with the norovirus, they appear to be low in numbers. Yet at the same time, almost three million people have been laid low with the stomach bug already in the United Kingdom – that’s double last year.

More than 55 hospital wards have been closed in Britain. Outbreaks are common in hospitals, nursing homes, schools and cruise ships. According to the BBC, Dr. Darren Simpson, a GP in Bradford said, “very few people follow the advice of staying away from work however due to unsympathetic and often nagging bosses.”

In 2007, I remember getting hit twice with what I know now was norovirus. The winter vomiting disease is the most common cause of infectious gastroenteritis and, boy, is it violent.

Doctors advise people to stay at home for 48 hours after the nasty symptoms have gone to cut the risk of the bug spreading, but I can’t say that I knew differently. I thought I’d had a flu shot for nothing and toddled back to the office and the nursing home to visit Ma.

Norovirus is not normally dangerous, but the very young and very old are most at risk of complications from dehydration. People are supposed to practice extra good hygiene, including hand washing and disinfecting contaminated surfaces if anyone has become ill. Simply staying home, though, is revolutionary.

After hearing details last week of the transformation planned for Nova Scotia health care, I’d say better public education is recommended. I’ve cleaned up after plenty of sick kids and didn’t know one common bug from another. The scope for learning better primary health care is huge.

I have to say I was impressed with how the Tories rolled out the almost 400 page report. No one ever wants to see a repeat of the Liberal hospital closure fiasco of 1994. West Kings feels ownership, but I don’t think eastern Kings County has recovered more than a decade later.

The authorities can talk about bottom up health care delivery, but until I see well-seasoned grass roots initiatives, like midwifery and hospice care, actually delivered to the front lines then I won’t have any faith in a changed community of health care.

After the news on Jan. 17, I will admit it looks more feasible, but until health care consumers find themselves actually listened to, well, I’m from Missouri.