Tonga - 2 Confirmed cases H1N1 - 1 death

[Gert van der Hoek]

Two women, first swine flu cases for Tonga

15 Jul 2009, 22:06



Nuku'alofa, Tonga:

TONGA has confirmed its first cases of Influenza A (H1N1) otherwise known as swine flu on Tuesday July 14.

Two Tongan women, one local and the other a visitor from Australia, are the first two confirmed laboratory cases for the virus in Tonga.

The Chief Medical Officer for Public Health, Dr Malakai
'Ake, confirmed today that the two cases were detected earlier this month between July 4-7, after they came into Vaiola Hospital seeking medical attention.

He said the first woman, an overseas Tongan, presented on July 5 while the other a resident in Tongatapu came in on July 7. The women in their 20's and 30's were feeling the symptoms of the virus, including coughs, sore throats and joint aches.

"The medical officers at the hospital suspected this to be the virus and gave them Panadol, advised them to go straight back home and stay put while tests were sent tests to New Zealand for confirmation The results of the tests released yesterday confirmed the cases to be the Influenza A."

Dr 'Ake that both women had quickly recovered and were doing well. One had returned to Australia, while the other a local resident in Tongatapu is said to be back working. Family members had not shown any of the symptoms.

Seasonal flu

He said the airborne flu spreads from person to person like our normal seasonal flu and can be treated with Panadol.

"Tamiflu is given in the cases where the person contracting the virus has a chronic disease or pregnant.

"Just because Tonga has now got two confirmed cases there is no need to impose any restrictions on travel," he said.

http://www.matangitonga.to/article/tonganews/health/20090715_swineflu_tonga.shtml

1 H1N1 death confirmed:

http://ecdc.europa.eu/en/files/pdf/Health_topics/Situation_Report_090721_1700hrs.pdf

[Rwilmer]

Tonga: First H1N1 Death

Tonga records flu death
Thursday, July 23, 2009

Tonga confirmed its first death yesterday resulting from Pandemic H1N1 2009.

Ministry of Health me-dia liaison officer,Iliesa Tora said the deceased was a 26-year-old pregnant wo-man.
"Tonga has reported seven new cases this week and has a total of nine cases," he said.

Fiji has not recorded any fatalities from the virus. Fiji's 97 confirmed cases have recovered and there have been no more new cases.

http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=125982

[kiwibird]

Re: Tonga - 2 Confirmed cases H1N1 - 1 death

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td width="325">http://www.matangitonga.to/article/t...wine_flu.shtml
Baby 'Ofa survives family tragedy</td> <td rowspan="3" align="right" valign="top" width="150"> Email this article
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</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="325">23 Jul 2009, 23:35


</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="475"><tbody><tr><td width="325"> Nuku'alofa, Tonga:

By Linny Folau

<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="2" width="312"> <tbody><tr> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Widower Sitiveni Uhi with baby son 'Ofa ki Vahanoa Hasata Piuleini, and daughter Seini (3)</td> </tr> </tbody></table>

A BEAUTIFUL newborn baby boy in Tonga has been named in memory of his mother, Hasata Piuleni Uhi (26), who died tragically this week from complications of the "swine flu" - Tonga's first death from the outbreak.

Named 'Ofa ki Vahanoa Hasata Piuleini Uhi, or "Love for Vahanoa Hasata Piuleini" the near full-term baby was delivered by a caesarian operation on July 11 after his mother was admitted to Vaiola Hospital, gravely ill.

Widower Sitiveni Uhi (35), whose wife's funeral was held yesterday at Tatakamotonga, was back at the Vaiola Hospital this morning to visit baby 'Ofa who is being kept at Vaiola to be fed by nurses for at least a month.

Sitiveni in a heartfelt voice said he had accepted his wife's death and was happy that their baby boy is healthy.

<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="2" width="255"> <tbody><tr> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td> Sitiveni Uhi with his mother in law Taifuni Taufa and family members at Vaiola paediatric ward today</td> </tr> </tbody></table>

Hasata's birthday

Dressed in mourning black and a ta'ovala, the father accompanied by their three year old daughter Seini, his mother in law Taifuni Taufa and family members, visited the baby 'Ofa at the Paediatric Ward where they sadly revealed that today was Hasata's 26th birthday.

He recollected that his wife fell ill a week before she was admitted to the hospital on July 10 and her first x-ray examination confirmed that pneumonia had covered a major part of her lungs.

Hasata worked as a telephone operator at the Vaiola Hospital.

"During my wife's pregnancy she craved cold treats like ice cream and would always come back from work craving it so we would walk to the shop to buy ice cream and I am sure this contributed to her illness," said Sitiveni.

He added when they were admitted to the hospital Hasata had already experienced difficulty in breathing and was put on the respirator even after the surgery and when they went into the Intensive Unit until her death.

"But she was able to talk to me the whole time we were at the hospital even after her surgery, but it was hard because she could only utter a few words as it exhausted her easily."

Sitiveni said he was not aware that his wife had the swine flu until a doctor told him on Tuesday, July 21 after a prayer vigil following her death, that a test was sent to New Zealand and came back positive.

Terrible loss

Despite the terrible loss to the small family, Sitiveni, a farmer, is confident and strong willed that he would be able to care for their two young children. In addition he has the support of his immediate and extended family at Tatakamotonga. His wife came from Vava'u.

While baby 'Ofa remains at the hospital the family visits him daily bringing diapers and baby formula.</td></tr></tbody></table>

[Laidback Al]

Re: Tonga - 2 Confirmed cases H1N1 - 1 death

creditsbcgauspohl. . .

Pregnant woman Tonga's first death from swine flu

22 Jul 2009, 17:53

Nuku'alofa, Tonga:

A 26-year-old pregnant woman who died on Monday, July 20 has been confirmed as Tonga's first death from swine flu, according to the Director of Health Dr Siale 'Akau'ola today. The woman's baby was saved.

The funeral of the woman was held at Tatakamotonga today. She had worked as a telephone operator and receptionist at Vaiola Hospital.

He said the pregnant woman who was nearly full term, was admitted to Vaiola Hospital on July 10 for pneumonia and was in a severe condition, with breathing difficulties.

He said doctors suspected she had the swine flu and isolated her before deciding for immediate surgery to try save her life and the baby.

The surgery took place the following day on July 11, which saved her baby, unfortunately she was far too sick to be saved and died on Monday, July 20. Her test, which was sent to New Zealand for confirmation on July 15, came back positive for swine flu the day she died, confirmed Dr 'Akau'ola.

Two weeks

It is confirmed that the woman had the flu-like symptoms for two weeks prior to her admission. She had been seen by health workers twice and treated for viral illness. Then two weeks later she deteriorated very fast before being admitted for pneumonia on July 10.

"The woman's death is very sad and unfortunate but she was far too sick and it was too late for her to be treated otherwise. The surgery also did not help her severe condition, but even without it she could have died on July 11 as well as the baby," he said.

Vulnerable groups

"This raises concerns particularly for vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and those suffering from chronic diseases. And we are now highlighting and targeting the vulnerabilities of these two groups to swine flu and the importance for them to stay away from people who have flu-like symptoms and to seek medical treatment at the earliest opportunity," he said.

Two other pregnant women who had early flu symptoms have been given Tamiflu.

"It is also essential for the public to know that once we suspect flu-like cases to be swine, we treat patients immediately without waiting for the test confirmation from New Zealand, because that is just for the data information," he stressed.

Nine cases

Tonga has so far confirmed nine laboratory cases of swine flu. They include two women who were confirmed as Tonga's first cases on July 14 who have recovered; the woman who just died; and six others who have been treated and are reported to be doing well.

"But we suspect that there are even more cases within the community so it is essential that everyone is mindful of it," warned Dr 'Akau'ola.

http://www.matangitonga.to/article/tonganews/health/20090722_swine-flu_death-tonga.shtml

[Sally Furniss]

Re: Tonga - 2 Confirmed cases H1N1 - 1 death

...Other pressures bearing down on the region are wide and varied. Swine flu has hit the islands hard, with dozens of notifications and several deaths in July alone, increasing pressure on Australia to help with Tamiflu supplies.
In Tonga, a baby needed to be cut from the body of a young woman before she died of the virus while in Samoa, government schools were closed for several days to stop the virus spreading.....

http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20090806/focus.htm