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Corio swine flu boy in Malaysian isolation
Aleks Devic
June 30th, 2009
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AN 11-YEAR-OLD Corio boy was ushered off a plane and put into quarantine at a Kuala Lumpur hospital after contracting swine flu.
Luke Cornwell's dad, Nevada, is also in isolation at the Sungai Buloh Hospital despite not having the virus.
The pair were on an Air Asia flight on Thursday ready to return home when the entire plane was evacuated after a flight attendant noticed Luke coughing and he registered a temperature of 39 degrees.
His mother, Lisa Cornwell, yesterday described her family's ordeal as harrowing.
"I've been absolutely frantic," Mrs Cornwell said.
"They couldn't get cold water for 36 hours and only had access to warm water.
"Their room has a telephone point that he (Mr Cornwell) has been looking at for the last five days but they won't connect a phone because of the worry the virus will spread.
"There is no entertainment in their room, not even a TV.
"They bought a heap of DVD's to watch and they have been reading the backs of the DVD covers."
Mrs Cornwell said she contacted the Australian embassy, which arranged for cold water to be brought into their room along with 50 books and magazines.
"They were going to go mentally insane," she said.
Luke joined his dad on a business trip and it is believed the Corio West Primary School student contracted the virus during their five-day stay in Cambodia.
Mrs Cornwell said her son had days where he vomited but was coping with the situation.
"He is holding up really well, he has his bursts when he cries," she said.
"It's more the quarantine, being bored and not receiving western-style food."
Ms Cornwell said her husband and son were due to fly out tomorrow if they received the doctor's all-clear.
She said Luke had placed an order for his first meal when the plane landed.
"He wants a triple cheeseburger meal and a chocolate donut," she said.
Adding to Mrs Cornwell's worries, her four daughter's aged between one and 16, had come down with the flu and were being treated with antibiotics.
Mrs Cornwell said Luke was a keen footballer and an avid Western Bulldogs supporter and was crushed when he learned he would not play football last week and miss his beloved team in action.
Two Victorian men, aged 50 and 85, with underlying medical conditions died yesterday after also contracting swine flu.
Department of Human Services figures show there have been 14 people diagnosed with swine flu in Geelong while on the Surf Coast, one person contracted the virus.
The deaths yesterday took Victoria's swine flu tally to five, while the nation's total is seven.
http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2009/06/30/81461_news.html
Aleks Devic
June 30th, 2009
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AN 11-YEAR-OLD Corio boy was ushered off a plane and put into quarantine at a Kuala Lumpur hospital after contracting swine flu.
Luke Cornwell's dad, Nevada, is also in isolation at the Sungai Buloh Hospital despite not having the virus.
The pair were on an Air Asia flight on Thursday ready to return home when the entire plane was evacuated after a flight attendant noticed Luke coughing and he registered a temperature of 39 degrees.
His mother, Lisa Cornwell, yesterday described her family's ordeal as harrowing.
"I've been absolutely frantic," Mrs Cornwell said.
"They couldn't get cold water for 36 hours and only had access to warm water.
"Their room has a telephone point that he (Mr Cornwell) has been looking at for the last five days but they won't connect a phone because of the worry the virus will spread.
"There is no entertainment in their room, not even a TV.
"They bought a heap of DVD's to watch and they have been reading the backs of the DVD covers."
Mrs Cornwell said she contacted the Australian embassy, which arranged for cold water to be brought into their room along with 50 books and magazines.
"They were going to go mentally insane," she said.
Luke joined his dad on a business trip and it is believed the Corio West Primary School student contracted the virus during their five-day stay in Cambodia.
Mrs Cornwell said her son had days where he vomited but was coping with the situation.
"He is holding up really well, he has his bursts when he cries," she said.
"It's more the quarantine, being bored and not receiving western-style food."
Ms Cornwell said her husband and son were due to fly out tomorrow if they received the doctor's all-clear.
She said Luke had placed an order for his first meal when the plane landed.
"He wants a triple cheeseburger meal and a chocolate donut," she said.
Adding to Mrs Cornwell's worries, her four daughter's aged between one and 16, had come down with the flu and were being treated with antibiotics.
Mrs Cornwell said Luke was a keen footballer and an avid Western Bulldogs supporter and was crushed when he learned he would not play football last week and miss his beloved team in action.
Two Victorian men, aged 50 and 85, with underlying medical conditions died yesterday after also contracting swine flu.
Department of Human Services figures show there have been 14 people diagnosed with swine flu in Geelong while on the Surf Coast, one person contracted the virus.
The deaths yesterday took Victoria's swine flu tally to five, while the nation's total is seven.
http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2009/06/30/81461_news.html