Risk of another SARS-like outbreak: report

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Risk of another SARS-like outbreak: report

By ANTONELLA ARTUSO -- Toronto Sun

Ontario remains at risk of another SARS-like outbreak unless more is done to correct dangerous gaps in the province's health-care system, the SARS commission's final report concludes. 

Justice Archie Campbell's report, entitled Spring of Fear, notes that many of the recommendations he made in two interim reports have yet to be implemented. Campbell says the province is better prepared today than it was in 2003, but much remains to be done. 

"SARS taught us lessons that can help us redeem our failures," he says in his report. "If we do not learn the lessons to be taken from SARS, however, if we do not make present governments fix the problems that remain, we will pay a terrible price in the face of future outbreaks of virulent disease." 

The commission looked at how SARS, which emerged from the jungles of central China, travelled to Toronto where it killed 44 people and infected another 330 in the spring of 2003. 

It delivered pain and death to its victims, left the health-care system unable to respond with timely care for other needy patients, and resulted in an economic downturn in the GTA. 

"SARS had Ontario's health system on the edge of a complete breakdown," the report says. "SARS may be the last wake-up call we get before the next major outbreak of infection, whether it turns out to be an influenza pandemic or some other health crisis." 

Campbell's report does not blame any person, group or government but points to systemic failures in communication, infection control and worker safety that left the province ill-prepared for the outbreak. 

"We all failed ourselves and we should all be ashamed because we did not insist that these governments protect us better," he says. 

RUMOURS REJECTED 

Campbell rejects long-festering rumours that politics played a role in the provincial response to SARS, concluding that the government of the day was acting on the available medical advice when it prematurely claimed an end to the outbreak. 

A second flare-up of SARS at North York General Hospital that infected 118 people can be linked to inadequate surveillance, the report says. 

Commission counsel Doug Hunt said Campbell is concerned that his recommendations not gather dust like those of so many other public inquiries. 

Ontario Labour Minister Steve Peters said many of the recommendations involve his ministry's role in protecting health-care workers. Campbell found the Labour Ministry was sidelined during much of the crisis and workers were not adequately protected. 

HEALTH WORKERS 

Almost half of SARS victims were health workers infected on the job, including two nurses and a doctor who died. 

Peters said his ministry has ensured 233 of its inspectors have received specific training in health care and residential facilities, and the government as a whole is making significant progress on many recommendations in Campbell's report. 

Doris Grinspun of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario said the province has already moved to hire more nurses and to create more full-time nursing positions. 

The report says nurses, paramedics and other health-care workers were not properly trained and equipped to protect themselves, and in some cases brought SARS and death home to their families. 

--- 

CAMPBELL'S KEY FINDINGS 

1. If we do not fix remaining problems, a "terrible price" will be paid in the next pandemic. 

2. SARS brought Ontario's health system to the edge of a complete breakdown. 

3. Health-care workers and the public performed heroically. 

4. SARS thrived because of systemic weaknesses in worker safety, infection control and public health. 

5. Lack of adequate surveillance blamed for second SARS outbreak. 

6. No one person or organization is to blame. 

7. Evidence of serious communication failures, and many still persist. 

8. No political or economic pressure on health-care system. 

9. First SARS outbreak was not preventable. 

10. Unclear if SARS II could have been avoided. 

11. Health-care workers were not adequately protected. 

12. We're safer now, but not yet as safe as we should be. 

13. Most important lesson to be learned from SARS? Use the "precautionary principle" to protect against any future infectious disease crisis. 

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July Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Valued Member Joined: May 24 2006 Status: Offline Points: 1660	Post Options Post Reply Quote July Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Risk of another SARS-like outbreak: report Posted: January 10 2007 at 10:44am
	Risk of another SARS-like outbreak: report By ANTONELLA ARTUSO -- Toronto Sun Ontario remains at risk of another SARS-like outbreak unless more is done to correct dangerous gaps in the province's health-care system, the SARS commission's final report concludes. Justice Archie Campbell's report, entitled Spring of Fear, notes that many of the recommendations he made in two interim reports have yet to be implemented. Campbell says the province is better prepared today than it was in 2003, but much remains to be done. "SARS taught us lessons that can help us redeem our failures," he says in his report. "If we do not learn the lessons to be taken from SARS, however, if we do not make present governments fix the problems that remain, we will pay a terrible price in the face of future outbreaks of virulent disease." The commission looked at how SARS, which emerged from the jungles of central China, travelled to Toronto where it killed 44 people and infected another 330 in the spring of 2003. It delivered pain and death to its victims, left the health-care system unable to respond with timely care for other needy patients, and resulted in an economic downturn in the GTA. "SARS had Ontario's health system on the edge of a complete breakdown," the report says. "SARS may be the last wake-up call we get before the next major outbreak of infection, whether it turns out to be an influenza pandemic or some other health crisis." Campbell's report does not blame any person, group or government but points to systemic failures in communication, infection control and worker safety that left the province ill-prepared for the outbreak. "We all failed ourselves and we should all be ashamed because we did not insist that these governments protect us better," he says. RUMOURS REJECTED Campbell rejects long-festering rumours that politics played a role in the provincial response to SARS, concluding that the government of the day was acting on the available medical advice when it prematurely claimed an end to the outbreak. A second flare-up of SARS at North York General Hospital that infected 118 people can be linked to inadequate surveillance, the report says. Commission counsel Doug Hunt said Campbell is concerned that his recommendations not gather dust like those of so many other public inquiries. Ontario Labour Minister Steve Peters said many of the recommendations involve his ministry's role in protecting health-care workers. Campbell found the Labour Ministry was sidelined during much of the crisis and workers were not adequately protected. HEALTH WORKERS Almost half of SARS victims were health workers infected on the job, including two nurses and a doctor who died. Peters said his ministry has ensured 233 of its inspectors have received specific training in health care and residential facilities, and the government as a whole is making significant progress on many recommendations in Campbell's report. Doris Grinspun of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario said the province has already moved to hire more nurses and to create more full-time nursing positions. The report says nurses, paramedics and other health-care workers were not properly trained and equipped to protect themselves, and in some cases brought SARS and death home to their families. --- CAMPBELL'S KEY FINDINGS 1. If we do not fix remaining problems, a "terrible price" will be paid in the next pandemic. 2. SARS brought Ontario's health system to the edge of a complete breakdown. 3. Health-care workers and the public performed heroically. 4. SARS thrived because of systemic weaknesses in worker safety, infection control and public health. 5. Lack of adequate surveillance blamed for second SARS outbreak. 6. No one person or organization is to blame. 7. Evidence of serious communication failures, and many still persist. 8. No political or economic pressure on health-care system. 9. First SARS outbreak was not preventable. 10. Unclear if SARS II could have been avoided. 11. Health-care workers were not adequately protected. 12. We're safer now, but not yet as safe as we should be. 13. Most important lesson to be learned from SARS? Use the "precautionary principle" to protect against any future infectious disease crisis.