(OTTAWA) – Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq today announced the release of a comprehensive preparedness guide that will provide Canadians with information about the H1N1 flu virus, steps they can take to protect themselves, and what to do if they, or their family members, get sick.
“Every Canadian has a role to play in preventing the spread of the H1N1 flu virus,” said Minister Aglukkaq. “This guide gives Canadians the information they need to make the right decisions to protect themselves and their families.”
The guide, which was developed by the Public Health Agency of Canada with input from provincial and territorial governments, can be obtained online at www.fightflu.ca, or by calling 1-800-O-Canada. Starting today, the guide will be widely distributed directly to health care professionals, organizations that support populations at risk (e.g. people with underlying medical conditions, young children, and pregnant women), other health care stakeholders. In the coming days, the guide will also be available at Canada Post offices across Canada.
“We have consulted experts, the provinces and territories, and Canadians from all walks of life to ensure we have consistent, plain language and effective information in the guide,” said Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. David Butler-Jones. “I encourage all Canadians to inform themselves about the H1N1 flu virus through the use of this guide.”
Providing Canadians with basic information on infection prevention and preparedness related to the H1N1 flu virus is a key objective for the Government of Canada and its provincial and territorial partners going into the fall. The government has ordered an initial print run of 1.2 million copies of the guide and anticipates it will become a "go-to" document on the H1N1 flu virus.
Canadians will be reminded to get a copy of the guide later this month in a pamphlet that the Public Health Agency of Canada is sending to 13.7 million households. The pamphlet will have basic information on the H1N1 flu virus and exact details on how to obtain a copy of the guide.
Media Inquiries:
Josée Bellemare
Office of Leona Aglukkaq
Minister of Health
613-957-0200
Public Health Agency of Canada
Media Relations
(613) 941-8189
