Patient with swine flu dies, virus not cause
Jessica Wauchop
A GISBORNE person who died in Gisborne Hospital's Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on Tuesday also tested positive for influenza A (H1N1).
The ICU patient did not die because of swine flu but had been diagnosed with symptoms of the virus after becoming seriously ill and being admitted to hospital, said Tairawhiti District Health chief executive Jim Green.
Mr Green confirmed this morning a hospital staff member had tested positive for the swine flu virus.
The staff member was tested by a GP and is now off work. The two cases are unrelated.
Patients who had been in contact with the staff member would be notified today, said Mr Green.
"It is not surprising a staff member has become sick with the H1N1 virus. It is definitely out there in the community," he said.
"Obviously, there is a risk to patients or to anyone in contact with the person because transmission of the virus appears to be relatively easy.
"However, we don't believe there is any significant risk. Given the circumstances, we thought it would be good to follow up with patients who have since been discharged to see how they are getting on.
"We don't believe the staff member becoming sick will have made much of a difference."
The case highlighted the importance of staying home when sick this winter, said Mr Green.
"We have been advising staff all along if they are unwell, please don't come to work. Stay at home and if you need assistance call your GP.
"It is important that people carry on with all other precautions in terms of not spreading the virus."
Not everyone with flu-like illnesses was being tested for the virus, he said.
"It would be pointless trying to speculate how many people have (H1N1). Whatever the number of confirmed cases, it is unlikely to be anywhere near the actual figure."
http://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/article/?id=13001
Jessica Wauchop
A GISBORNE person who died in Gisborne Hospital's Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on Tuesday also tested positive for influenza A (H1N1).
The ICU patient did not die because of swine flu but had been diagnosed with symptoms of the virus after becoming seriously ill and being admitted to hospital, said Tairawhiti District Health chief executive Jim Green.
Mr Green confirmed this morning a hospital staff member had tested positive for the swine flu virus.
The staff member was tested by a GP and is now off work. The two cases are unrelated.
Patients who had been in contact with the staff member would be notified today, said Mr Green.
"It is not surprising a staff member has become sick with the H1N1 virus. It is definitely out there in the community," he said.
"Obviously, there is a risk to patients or to anyone in contact with the person because transmission of the virus appears to be relatively easy.
"However, we don't believe there is any significant risk. Given the circumstances, we thought it would be good to follow up with patients who have since been discharged to see how they are getting on.
"We don't believe the staff member becoming sick will have made much of a difference."
The case highlighted the importance of staying home when sick this winter, said Mr Green.
"We have been advising staff all along if they are unwell, please don't come to work. Stay at home and if you need assistance call your GP.
"It is important that people carry on with all other precautions in terms of not spreading the virus."
Not everyone with flu-like illnesses was being tested for the virus, he said.
"It would be pointless trying to speculate how many people have (H1N1). Whatever the number of confirmed cases, it is unlikely to be anywhere near the actual figure."
http://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/article/?id=13001