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Officials of the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. disclosed yesterday that the public hospital has had three confirmed cases of adult respiratory distress syndrome, or ARDS, of which one patient has died.
Health officials assured, however, that there is no flu outbreak on island. The ARDS cases were also described as completely different and separate from the novel avian influenza A (H7N9 flu) virus.
ARDS is a life-threatening reaction to injuries or acute infection of the lung. It is a severe lung syndrome with direct and indirect causes.
Interim CEO Esther Mu?a disclosed that the first case was admitted to the hospital on May 13 while the second case was brought in on May 16, both of them pregnant women.
Both underwent Caesarian operations so they could safely deliver their babies. The infants were immediately placed in ventilators.
The third case, a middle-aged man, was admitted on May 14 and died on May 17.
To date, both mothers are in good condition, along with their newborns, who are no longer in ventilators, health officials said.
The definitive cause of the third patient's death remains unknown at this time.
Mu?a said that all three patients are from different villages on Saipan and have no direct contact with one another.
In a briefing yesterday, epidemiologist Ed Diaz disclosed that all three cases have been investigated and there was no evidence at this time that links the cases to the H7N9 flu virus. Investigation, however, will continue and in consultation with the U.S. Centers for Disease and Control.
According to intensive care unit nurse supervisor Wilma Gamundoy, this was not the first time for the hospital to admit ARDS cases. Because of underlying causes, she said it is not unusual to see patients with ARDS. Gamundoy described the symptoms of ARDS as flu-like symptoms with coughing and fever.
?It's flu season and we want to encourage everyone to take extra precaution to prevent flu. Flu vaccine is the single best way to protect them from the flu virus and we would like to encourage the public to get their flu shots,? Mu?a said.
Health officials assured, however, that there is no flu outbreak on island. The ARDS cases were also described as completely different and separate from the novel avian influenza A (H7N9 flu) virus.
ARDS is a life-threatening reaction to injuries or acute infection of the lung. It is a severe lung syndrome with direct and indirect causes.
Interim CEO Esther Mu?a disclosed that the first case was admitted to the hospital on May 13 while the second case was brought in on May 16, both of them pregnant women.
Both underwent Caesarian operations so they could safely deliver their babies. The infants were immediately placed in ventilators.
The third case, a middle-aged man, was admitted on May 14 and died on May 17.
To date, both mothers are in good condition, along with their newborns, who are no longer in ventilators, health officials said.
The definitive cause of the third patient's death remains unknown at this time.
Mu?a said that all three patients are from different villages on Saipan and have no direct contact with one another.
In a briefing yesterday, epidemiologist Ed Diaz disclosed that all three cases have been investigated and there was no evidence at this time that links the cases to the H7N9 flu virus. Investigation, however, will continue and in consultation with the U.S. Centers for Disease and Control.
According to intensive care unit nurse supervisor Wilma Gamundoy, this was not the first time for the hospital to admit ARDS cases. Because of underlying causes, she said it is not unusual to see patients with ARDS. Gamundoy described the symptoms of ARDS as flu-like symptoms with coughing and fever.
?It's flu season and we want to encourage everyone to take extra precaution to prevent flu. Flu vaccine is the single best way to protect them from the flu virus and we would like to encourage the public to get their flu shots,? Mu?a said.
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