Woman is Queensland's first swine flu fatality
Woman is Queensland's first swine flu fatality
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,27574,25786161-3102,00.html
Woman is Queensland's first swine flu fatality
Article from: The Courier-Mail
Janelle Miles
July 15, 2009 04:40pm
A YOUNG mother has died from swine flu in a Brisbane hospital, the first Queenslander to succumb to the virus which has infected 10,300 Australians.
The woman, 38, died in the Mater Public Hospital yesterday after being admitted a week ago.
She is believed to have been at increased risk of complications from the new H1N1 flu strain because of her obesity.
The woman, one of more than 2700 Queenslanders who have been diagnosed with swine flu, is the 22nd Australian to have died after contracting the highly contagious virus.
Last night, six Queenslanders with swine flu were in hospital intensive care units and health authorities were awaiting the results of tests on another 17 ICU patients suspected of having H1N1.
Queensland's Chief Health Officer, Jeannette Young, said people particularly vulnerable to developing complications from swine flu included the obese, indigenous Australians, pregnant women, diabetics and those with respiratory conditions, heart problems, and renal and liver disease.
Dr Young said anyone in an at-risk group who developed influenza symptoms should consult a doctor as soon as possible.
Anti-viral drugs such as Tamiflu must be prescribed within 48 hours of symptoms developing to be effective.
Despite the first Queensland death in the lead-up to the notorious Ekka flu season, health authorities say mass gatherings should continue unrestricted.
However, a Queensland Health spokesman said people in vulnerable groups should consider the risks of attending events such as the Ekka.
Ekka attendances were down by a third in 2007 after advice by health authorities during a particularly severe flu season.
The first Queensland swine flu death comes as drug company CSL prepares to begin human trials into a pandemic vaccine in Adelaide next week.
CSL's global director of clinical development, Rachel David, said the trials were designed to find the right dose for the vaccine to produce an adequate immune response.
The company's candidate swine flu vaccine is based on the formula used to develop seasonal flu vaccines.
"We're applying a standard dose of the vaccine and a double dose of the vaccine to see which works best," Dr David said.
If the standard dose was effective, she said the company could begin distributing the first doses in September if given the official go-ahead.
The UK announced on Tuesday that its vaccine would be available next month. But World Health Organisation chief Margaret Chan criticised Britain's move, saying any vaccine it used would not have been proved to be safe.
