Breastfeeding activities cancelled in Quebec over H1N1 worries
The Breastfeeding Challenge is held each year in October in some 20 cities across Quebec with the goal of having the greatest number of babies breastfeed at the same time around the world. Provincial health authorities have cancelled the series fearing the H1N1 virus could pose too much of a health risk to mothers and babies.
Photograph by: Julie Oliver, Ottawa Citizen
Quebec Health authorities have cancelled a series of breastfeeding gatherings across the province fearing the H1N1 virus could pose too much of a health risk to mothers and babies.
The Breastfeeding Challenge is held each year in October in some 20 cities across the province with the goal of having the greatest number of babies breastfeed at the same time around the world.
The activity attracts some 2,500 women and their babies in Montreal and 500 in Quebec City.
Authorities said they don't know how the pandemic will evolve and would rather err on the side of caution.
"Statistics gathered during the first pandemic wave show pregnant women, women who just gave birth, newborns and young children are more vulnerable to the virus and risk developing major complications," the health agency said in a press release.
Moreover, the agency said babies and toddlers can't follow the basic hygiene guidelines such as washing hands regularly.
The Quebec government will announce Friday if it is cancelling or delaying the seasonal flu vaccination campaign in favour of a mass inoculation against the H1N1 strain.
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