Flu Concerns

Critics are warning that remote and First Nations communities in northern Ontario could be more vulnerable to the spread of swine flu this fall.

Aboriginal leaders and opposition parties say poverty and overcrowding are creating dangerous situations on reserves and far-flung communities with little access to doctors and nurses.

Chief Theresa Hall says many elders and children in Attawapiskat First Nation, near James Bay, live in ramshackle buildings that with no indoor plumbing.

She says if there's a pandemic, it will be a ``disaster'' in her community.

NDP critic France Gelinas says there's a lot of inadequate housing and overcrowding in the north, which makes prevention nearly impossible.

She says asking people to cough in their sleeve or wash their hands won't stop the swine flu from spreading if people are living in such close quarters.

Health Minister David Caplan says the province has shipped out protective gear and antivirals across the province.

He says Ontario has the infrastructure in place to deploy the H1N1 vaccine fast, but must wait for Ottawa to approve the drug.