Loading....
x
“Physicians don’t normally do a blood culture.”
Dr. Bob BortolussiThe human toll of Canada’s listeria outbreak may be larger than officials have reported, a Toronto Star/CBC investigation has found.
Public health authorities across Canada have confirmed 20 deaths linked to listeria-tainted Maple Leaf cold cuts. But a lack of testing for the bacteria in nursing homes and hospitals during the outbreak could mean many other deaths were overlooked.
In one case, blood tests have been denied to Mississauga nursing home residents even though one resident died of listeria and at least one other is sick. Four other listeria cases, including two deaths, were discovered in other residences of the same nursing home chain, but no additional tests were ordered in those homes.
“The number of deaths could be higher if the investigations weren’t done to determine whether or not there was listeria in the blood stream,” says Dr. Bob Bortolussi, an infectious disease specialist in Halifax.
“Physicians normally don’t do a blood culture. Blood cultures are only done if there are severe enough symptoms to warrant.”
more local stories
Red cheeks and mittens, but a black bottom line for Canada's Games
WHISTLER, B.C. - If there's one memory the world took away from Canada after the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, it was the sea of red that washed over the country.
Montreal cops square off with civil libertarians
MONTREAL - The question of whether protesters should be banned from wearing face masks is pitting civil libertarians against Montreal's police force, and the cops appear to be losing.
G20 struggles to deal with China-U.S. tension
OTTAWA - Differences between China and the United States could undermine the G20 summit that Canada is hosting this summer, and are calling into question the continued existence of the new world club.
Layton hopes motion a springboard to reform
EDMONTON - Federal NDP Leader Jack Layton hopes a motion that would make it harder to prorogue Parliament will help get more Canadians involved in the political process.
One of two winning 6/49 tickets sold near London
TORONTO - One of two winning ticket's for Saturday's $41-million lottery jackpot was sold in the London, Ont., area.
editor's picks
In twitosphere, are the funny, famous in it for tweets, or do they also follow?
Twitter is so many things to so many people: infomercial, backyard fence, brain dump. The funny, famous, famous for the wrong reasons or simply very useful have thousands of followers, but who do THEY follow?
The clock may be ticking on CBC's '22 minutes
HALIFAX, N.S. - Is the clock ticking on "22 Minutes"?
NBC behind him, Conan O'Brien in talks with Fox
NEW YORK - The next few months could keep Conan O'Brien very busy.
Facebook users warned about email scam
Another email scam is circulating online trying to ensnare unsuspecting Facebook users into divulging all their passwords.
Thai PM objects to blood-spilling, but open to talks
BANGKOK, Thailand - Thailand's prime minister said Thursday the government was ready to hold talks with protesters, who want him to call new elections, but only if they stop throwing blood, blocking government offices and remain peaceful.
Copyright 2001-2010, Free Daily News Group Inc.