There have been, on average, nine medical evacuations per day for people in Nunavut who need urgent health care recently.
About two weeks ago, that number rose to 23 in one day, in part due to a “resurgence” of bronchiolitis and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
“You can imagine that this caused a significant strain on our resources,” said Dr. Francois de Wet, chief of staff at Qikiqtani General Hospital and chief of staff at the Nunavut Department of Health.
Medical evacuations, or medical evacuations, are common in the territory, which depends on small community health centers that refer patients to regional centers or hospitals in the south as needed.
But de Wet said it is not uncommon in the territory; rather, it is a return to normal business.
“One of the good things about COVID, if you can say that anything with COVID is good …, was the fact that the number of sick children decreased especially significantly in those two years that we were in quarantine.” said Wet.
Now that travel restrictions have been lifted and masks removed, he says diseases are on the rise, especially respiratory illnesses.
“We have more people with lung and throat infections now again than we’ve had in the last two years.”
That’s one of the reasons Dr. Nunavut’s director of public health, Dr. Michael Patterson, announced last week that the territory would resume its immunization program for RSV for vulnerable babies.
“We usually give it a while and then, once the burden of the disease settles in, we stop,” de Wet said. “But due to the fact that this year lasts longer than the previous year, we have decided to restart it again.”
Arviat struck hard
Some communities have been particularly affected.
Between May 15 and 27, the village of Arviat, Nuanvut, saw 16 medical evacuations, Wet said.
He says this is not uncommon given the high number of babies and young children in the community of about 3,000.
“It’s not an unusual figure for this time of year. It’s unusual compared to the last two years.”
Most medical evacuations are preventive, Wet said. Children, in particular, may be sent to a larger center if doctors or nurses are concerned about them.
Asked about the shortage of nursing, which has led to the closure of some health centers in Nunavut, Wet said some residents may have noticed paramedics, who are trained to diagnose and treat specific illnesses, who work at their local health center.
He also points out the practical nursing virtual program, which allows patients to connect with nurses who have higher education to make diagnoses and prescribe medications.
But, he said, his department is actively recruiting more nurses.
As for what people can do immediately to reduce the need for medical evacuation, he says wearing masks is a good idea, especially for those who are sick.
He also said that sick people should stay at home instead of spreading the disease.