Swine flu confirmed in children's ward and infectious minister sought

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/newsdeta...storyID=158797

Swine flu in hospital children's ward

17/06/2009 7:49:39

It is understood swine flu has hit the children's ward at Wellington Hospital.

The Dominion Post is reporting one child is in isolation after testing positive for the virus, and one room in the ward is in lock down.

Staff who treated the sick child and another child who shared the same room are also in isolation and being treated with Tamiflu.

Two people in Christchurch have now been hospitalised over swine flu. One child spent Saturday night at Christchurch Hospital battling the virus.

A Canterbury District Health Board spokeswoman says another person has now been admitted and is in isolation.

[kiwibird]

Re: Swine flu in hospital children's ward

Health officials search for swine flu minister
Newstalk ZB June 17, 2009, 12:54 pm


Canterbury health officials want a Samoan church minister who is believed to have exposed his congregation to swine flu to come forward.

Medical Officer of Health Dr Alistair Humphrey says they are still trying to trace all the people who attended the Methodist Church Sunday service.

He says a Pacific Liaison Officer was told by the minister that he explained to those who attended his service he thought he might have swine flu. Dr Humphrey says the minister also told the officer he avoided close contact with his congregation.

"We've have asked him to go public and indeed some of his colleagues in other churches have also asked him to go public on that to reassure the Samoan community."

Dr Humphrey says health officials will be endeavouring to make contact with the minister again today.

Parents of teenagers in isolation are being encouraged to do what they can to keep them under wraps.

There are reports of teenagers going to sport, movies and malls, despite the fact they are supposed to be in isolation.

Dr Humphrey says parents do what they can, but sometimes it is not that easy. He says in Christchurch health officials are now working with suburban shopping malls to make sure there is publicity and awareness of swine flu.

He also says it is not up to the district health board when schools reopen after a swine flu outbreak.

The Wainoni preschool Tino-E-Tasi closed last Friday after 10 children tested positive for the virus. It says it will reopen on Monday.

Dr Humphrey says the preschool could have opened again Wednesday, but has chosen not to. He says for most businesses, like Sea Products where 100 workers have been put into isolation, they will bring workers back as soon as possible.

"For a preschool, the situation is slightly different and we're not going to tell them you have to go back to school, or you have to reopen if you don't want to."

Dr Humphrey says after three days of treatment with Tamiflu, people are given the all-clear.

Wellington Hospital has confirmed its first case of swine flu.

A patient in the children's ward has tested positive for the virus.

A hospital spokesman says the child is experiencing mild symptoms and has been placed into isolation. He says another child who was discharged before the diagnosis is in isolation at home after sharing a hospital room with the patient.

The spokesman says staff are also being treated with Tamiflu but they are not being quarantined. He says flu-like illnesses often hit the children's ward and staff are experienced at containing and eradicating them

http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/mp/5658355/health-officials-search-for-swine-flu-minister/