Sally Furniss
Well-known member
Flu death sparks race tensions in Australia
Agence France-Presse
First Posted 12:04:00 07/25/2009
Filed Under: Swine Flu, Health, Children
SYDNEY ? A doctor was evacuated from an Aboriginal community in Australia's remote north amid race tensions following the death of a four-year-old girl believed to be suffering swine flu, reports said Saturday.
The child was sent home from the six-bed Doomadgee town hospital three times, despite having a fever and breathing difficulties, before finally being admitted in a serious condition, her family said.
The hospital's only doctor refused to transfer her to the larger hospital in nearby Mount Isa and she died in her grandmother's arms late Thursday, they said, accusing staff of racism.
"If she were a little white child the first day she went to the hospital she would have been flown out to Mount Isa," her grandfather, Athol Walden, told The Australian newspaper.
"Some of them we get here are racist, a lot of the people who work in our community."
His wife, Katrina added: "I think she was neglected because she was a little black girl."
Test results released Saturday showed she was not in fact suffering from A(H1N1) influenza, and the cause of death would be determined by the coroner, the state's chief medical officer said.
Police said they had sent reinforcements to the 1,200-person town after angry residents gathered at the hospital, and airlifted the doctor out under armed guard.
"There were worries about public safety and behaviour that was worrying for Queensland health staff," said Ray Pringle, superintendent of Mount Isa police.
Paul Lucas, the state's health minister, said authorities were investigating the family's claims.
"The allegations that have been made are serious ones and they will be investigated by the coroner," Lucas said.
"I just say to people, please keep calm about this.
"The last thing we want to do about this is have people react in an inappropriate way. It is a tragedy. It needs to be investigated."
Lucas said Australia's impoverished Aborigines, who suffer higher rates of disease than the rest of the population, were particularly at risk from swine flu, and six times more likely to be hospitalized with the disease.
An Aboriginal woman lost her near-term baby after contracting swine flu this week, and remains in a coma in Townsville hospital.
Total deaths linked to swine flu here stand at 48, with latest figures putting the number of infections at about 16,500, with 105 people in intensive care.
Children account for a number of the most recent deaths, and officials have warned the number of cases is likely to spike in coming weeks as young people return to school from vacation.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breaki...4/Flu-death-sparks-race-tensions-in-Australia
Agence France-Presse
First Posted 12:04:00 07/25/2009
Filed Under: Swine Flu, Health, Children
SYDNEY ? A doctor was evacuated from an Aboriginal community in Australia's remote north amid race tensions following the death of a four-year-old girl believed to be suffering swine flu, reports said Saturday.
The child was sent home from the six-bed Doomadgee town hospital three times, despite having a fever and breathing difficulties, before finally being admitted in a serious condition, her family said.
The hospital's only doctor refused to transfer her to the larger hospital in nearby Mount Isa and she died in her grandmother's arms late Thursday, they said, accusing staff of racism.
"If she were a little white child the first day she went to the hospital she would have been flown out to Mount Isa," her grandfather, Athol Walden, told The Australian newspaper.
"Some of them we get here are racist, a lot of the people who work in our community."
His wife, Katrina added: "I think she was neglected because she was a little black girl."
Test results released Saturday showed she was not in fact suffering from A(H1N1) influenza, and the cause of death would be determined by the coroner, the state's chief medical officer said.
Police said they had sent reinforcements to the 1,200-person town after angry residents gathered at the hospital, and airlifted the doctor out under armed guard.
"There were worries about public safety and behaviour that was worrying for Queensland health staff," said Ray Pringle, superintendent of Mount Isa police.
Paul Lucas, the state's health minister, said authorities were investigating the family's claims.
"The allegations that have been made are serious ones and they will be investigated by the coroner," Lucas said.
"I just say to people, please keep calm about this.
"The last thing we want to do about this is have people react in an inappropriate way. It is a tragedy. It needs to be investigated."
Lucas said Australia's impoverished Aborigines, who suffer higher rates of disease than the rest of the population, were particularly at risk from swine flu, and six times more likely to be hospitalized with the disease.
An Aboriginal woman lost her near-term baby after contracting swine flu this week, and remains in a coma in Townsville hospital.
Total deaths linked to swine flu here stand at 48, with latest figures putting the number of infections at about 16,500, with 105 people in intensive care.
Children account for a number of the most recent deaths, and officials have warned the number of cases is likely to spike in coming weeks as young people return to school from vacation.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breaki...4/Flu-death-sparks-race-tensions-in-Australia