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Swine flu is blamed for death
Jessica Wauchop
SWINE flu has been confirmed as the cause of death of Gisborne man Darrell Light, who died on Tuesday in Gisborne Hospital?s intensive care unit.
Mr Light, 49, had serious underlying medical conditions.
The Ministry of Health says his death brings the number of deaths from influenza A (H1N1) swine flu in New Zealand to 10.
A family spokesman contacted The Gisborne Herald yesterday to make sure people knew how dangerous swine flu could be.
?Darrell was a die-hard follower of swine flu information because he knew if he got it, he couldn?t beat it. He knew it could take him and it did take him,? he said.
?He died a very uncomfortable death. He was having panic attacks . . . our brother was very sick but he wasn?t that bad,? he said.
?We were in the process of getting him into physio and back out into the community when he got sick on Thursday because he had picked up the flu.?
It was thought he contracted the virus from a family member, the spokesman said.
?He took a turn and deteriorated on Saturday morning and that?s when we called an ambulance.
?He did have an underlying problem and an infection, but the swine flu was the final straw for him. That is exactly what we were told by doctors.?
The spokesman said the family were angry they had turned their brother?s ventilator off without knowing his deterioration was due to swine flu.
?We think the hospital should have let us keep him on the ventilator for another day-and-a-half while we waited for results.?
Many of the extended whanau are sick and being treated with Tamiflu. They have been tested for the H1N1 virus and expect their results back on Saturday.
The family expressed concerns about people they had been in contact with before test results confirmed swine flu.
Other family members with serious underlying medical conditions had been in contact with those who had since developed flu-like symptoms, he said.
?Now we are really worried about them. Since Darrell?s death, we have been in contact with 40 to 50 people and we don?t want those people to be taking that lightly.
?We are worried not every precaution was taken to prevent the spread of the virus. There needs to be more serious follow up on the virus, for the community?s sake,? he said.
When contacted on Wednesday morning, Tairawhiti District Health chief executive Jim Green said Mr Light died with swine flu, not because of it.
There was a consistent pattern around the world that people with underlying conditions were more susceptible to swine flu, said Mr Green.
?In terms of other members of family possibly being infected with the virus, there is a chance. But at the same time, H1N1 remains a mild illness for the vast majority.
?However, there is still very good reason to take precautions to reduce spread. It is the same messages ? wash your hands, cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing and stay at home if you are ill.?