IGLULIK - Health officials still cannot explain why two babies died in Iglulik during a two-week period after showing flu-like symptoms, but an additional nurse, a physician and other staff have been sent to the community.

News reports state one infant was seen three times by nurses at Iglulik's health centre before being sent home each time. News reports add the other infant was seen twice by the nurses before also being sent home on both occasions. Neither of the babies was medevaced out of the community.

"I cannot state what the reasons or cause of deaths are at this time ... ," Health and Social Services Minister Tagak Curley stated at the legislature on March 2.

He said there are five nurses and one home-care nurse in Iglulik. One more nurse has been sent to the community, as well as two licensed practical nurses. Two on-call nurses are available 24 hours.

"They are all working together to deal with the crisis in Iglulik, especially during this flu season," stated Curley. "In some cases, each child is being looked after for two hours to see what their symptoms are. If there are any children that are suffering (from) the flu or who are very sick, then they will look into those cases. That's where the situation stands right now in Iglulik."

Amittuq MLA Louis Tapardjuk thanked the health department for sending additional resources to Iglulik. But he wondered, without blaming anybody, if the deaths are a result of "ineffective health services" or a particular illness strain.

"I consider this a crisis and a very urgent matter," stated Tapardjuk at the legislature on March 2. "I know for a fact that the Department of Health and Social Services have been unable to provide a very clear picture, other than what they presently undertake to alleviate pain and deal with health. I believe that they have to research more about the cause of sicknesses."

The department stated that when patients require "medical or nursing attention that is at a level of care beyond resources locally available, a transfer is initiated. Depending on the urgency of the case, a medevac can be arranged."

The two deaths are a concern in the community, said senior administrative officer Brian Fleming.

"When you have two babies die, it raises lots of concern about why and so on. Were they given the proper care and so on?"

He added the affected families are receiving support from visitors and are never alone.

No events have been cancelled due to the flu as of yet, said Fleming, but with the arrival of a physician, things might change after he assesses the situation.

"There's a lot of people with flu and colds and so on, for sure," he said. "Like any Northern community, sometimes when a bug gets into the community, it can travel pretty fast, just because of the high density of living and so on."

In a press release, Nunavut's chief medical officer Dr. Isaac Sobol reported influenza-like activity in the territory, stating there have been confirmed cases of H3N2 and H1N1 influenza. He added this year's seasonal flu shot, which is still available, provides protection from both strains.

Dr. Sobol said mental health staff has been sent to Iglulik, in addition to the physician and nurse.

"They've had flu-like illness ... in the community," he said. "They were sent because of increased pressures in the community.

It won't be indefinitely."

-with files from Emily Ridlington