Local teacher receives commendation for helping to contain an H1N1 flu outbreak at B.C. cadet centre

Peacock Collegiate drama teacher and local Moose Jaw Schools Cadet Corps Major Lyle Johnson said he was completely surprised and pleased with the commendation he received for his part in containing an H1N1 flu outbreak at the Vernon Army Cadet Summer Training Centre in July.
"It's obviously an unexpected honour to receive something like this," he told the Times-Herald on Friday, adding the B.C. training centre's commanding officer, Lt.-Col. Allan Dengis is a man Johnson admires, which makes the commendation that much better.
The commendation reads: "Major Lyle Johnson is commended for his professionalism and leadership demonstrated in liaising with Canadian Forces health authorities and coordinating local support that mitigated a significant outbreak."
Johnson said he was second in command when the incident occurred in July and he was simply following the orders of his superior.
"You just do what your job requires."
Prior to a two-week cadet camp, which 1,042 cadets attended from all over western Canada, camp staff members prepared to deal with the possibility of an H1N1 outbreak when the campers arrived.
Johnson, 60, said it was just three days after camp began that he and other camp staff would have to rely on that preparation. Three people at the camp became sick with H1N1 and another with a different influenza.
Johnson's role during the situation included speaking with local and provincial health authorities, as well as the military, discussing the health standards each group expected in the situation.
Although the health districts only required isolation of sick individuals, the military recommended seven days isolation.
"So the military had to decide which standard we would follow."
In the end, the camp chose the military's standard. The H1N1 was contained, and Johnson attributes the camp's smooth running despite the crisis to good preparatory programming.

Carter Haydu can be reached at 691-1265.