http://www.smh.com.au/national/fourth-person-with-swine-flu-dies-in-sa-20090723-dueq.html
Fourth person with swine flu dies in SA
July 23, 2009 - 1:26PM
A fourth person with swine flu has died in South Australia, health authorities say.
The 25-year-old man was admitted to the Royal Adelaide Hospital with underlying medical conditions on July 19 and died on Wednesday evening.
SA chief medical officer Paddy Phillips says it is important to remember that in the vast majority of cases, human swine flu is a mild illness.
"However, as we have consistently stated, influenza can be severe for people with chronic medical conditions," he said in a statement.
"I would also urge everyone, particularly pregnant women and people in at risk groups, to get a seasonal flu shot to help protect them from seasonal influenza."
The number of confirmed swine flu cases in South Australia is now 1,594.
The national toll stands at 44, with 17 deaths in NSW, 15 in Victoria, three in the Northern Territory, two each in Queensland and Tasmania and one in Western Australia.
The ACT government has launched an unprecedented action plan to buy private hospital beds, redeploy staff and postpone elective surgery as it comes to grips with the escalating outbreak of swine flu.
More than 500 cases of the H1N1 virus have been recorded in Canberra, with experts warning the figure has yet to hit its peak.
The Canberra Hospital's emergency department experienced its busiest ever month in June due to swine flu, prompting the ACT government to upgrade its annual winter management plan.
The government has committed to spending $1.6 million for up to 25 private hospital beds to cope with the influx of admissions.
So far, 27 people have been hospitalised with swine flu, including three pregnant women.
There have been no deaths.
Health Minister Katy Gallagher warned hospital staff, who have faced a notable increase in sick days themselves, of the possibility of being temporarily moved around to ease demand.
Elective surgeries have already been postponed and were bound to continue for up to three months, she said on Thursday.
"This certainly isn't a position of panic, or of the system not working ... we are about being prepared for the next two to three months," she told reporters in Canberra.
"If we just carried on as normal, there would be additional pressure in August and September and it would be silly to ignore the warning signs from June and July."
The spread of swine flu has become a major burden on GPs, hospitals and intensive care units, said the ACT's chief health officer Charles Guest, who labelled it the most serious pandemic in 40 years.
And it is expected to get worse before it gets any better.
"The peak will probably come these winter months," Dr Guest said.
The hospital attended to a record 177 emergency cases in a single day on Wednesday, while its June tally was 18 per cent higher than this time last year.
Ms Gallagher and Dr Guest agreed the territory's pandemic response would hold it in good stead should another influenza scare occur.
Fourth person with swine flu dies in SA
July 23, 2009 - 1:26PM
A fourth person with swine flu has died in South Australia, health authorities say.
The 25-year-old man was admitted to the Royal Adelaide Hospital with underlying medical conditions on July 19 and died on Wednesday evening.
SA chief medical officer Paddy Phillips says it is important to remember that in the vast majority of cases, human swine flu is a mild illness.
"However, as we have consistently stated, influenza can be severe for people with chronic medical conditions," he said in a statement.
"I would also urge everyone, particularly pregnant women and people in at risk groups, to get a seasonal flu shot to help protect them from seasonal influenza."
The number of confirmed swine flu cases in South Australia is now 1,594.
The national toll stands at 44, with 17 deaths in NSW, 15 in Victoria, three in the Northern Territory, two each in Queensland and Tasmania and one in Western Australia.
The ACT government has launched an unprecedented action plan to buy private hospital beds, redeploy staff and postpone elective surgery as it comes to grips with the escalating outbreak of swine flu.
More than 500 cases of the H1N1 virus have been recorded in Canberra, with experts warning the figure has yet to hit its peak.
The Canberra Hospital's emergency department experienced its busiest ever month in June due to swine flu, prompting the ACT government to upgrade its annual winter management plan.
The government has committed to spending $1.6 million for up to 25 private hospital beds to cope with the influx of admissions.
So far, 27 people have been hospitalised with swine flu, including three pregnant women.
There have been no deaths.
Health Minister Katy Gallagher warned hospital staff, who have faced a notable increase in sick days themselves, of the possibility of being temporarily moved around to ease demand.
Elective surgeries have already been postponed and were bound to continue for up to three months, she said on Thursday.
"This certainly isn't a position of panic, or of the system not working ... we are about being prepared for the next two to three months," she told reporters in Canberra.
"If we just carried on as normal, there would be additional pressure in August and September and it would be silly to ignore the warning signs from June and July."
The spread of swine flu has become a major burden on GPs, hospitals and intensive care units, said the ACT's chief health officer Charles Guest, who labelled it the most serious pandemic in 40 years.
And it is expected to get worse before it gets any better.
"The peak will probably come these winter months," Dr Guest said.
The hospital attended to a record 177 emergency cases in a single day on Wednesday, while its June tally was 18 per cent higher than this time last year.
Ms Gallagher and Dr Guest agreed the territory's pandemic response would hold it in good stead should another influenza scare occur.