Visitor restrictions imposed at hospitals
Middlemore hospital in South Auckland is restricting visitors, particularly children, as it copes with swine flu and other flu-like illnesses.
The restrictions take effect from Friday.
Counties Manukau District Health Board says there are to be no more than two visitors per patient in wards and only one visitor per patient in the emergency department.
The DHB says visiting must take place only during visiting hours and children should not visit at any time.
The rule applies to Middlemore hospital and the Manukau surgical centre.
Chief medical officer Don Mackie says the restrictions are to limit the number of people who are exposed to others with swine or seasonal flu.
Radio New Zealand]'s health correspondent says Middlemore has seven patients with swine flu and 30 others with flu-like symptoms. The hospital says it is extremely busy, but coping.
Hawke's Bay hospital also says it will strictly enforce visiting hours and limit the number of visitors per patient to two. Non-urgent surgery will resume next week but will be under daily review.
Wellington hospital - which is operating at full capacity - says anyone who visits with flu symptoms will be asked to leave.
Six deaths in New Zealand have been linked to swine flu.
Flu epidemics reached in some areas
Wellington, Taupo and Rotorua are experiencing flu epidemics according to the National Influenza Centre.
A weekly flu report from the centre says flu rates are highest among children and teenagers.
Sue Huang says it shows an alarming rise in the number of people with flu symptoms. Doctors are reporting their highest figures in 10 years.
She says about 80% of people with flu in the week to 5 July had swine flu rather than seasonal flu.
Weekly influenza reports are compiled each winter for the Environmental Science and Research agency.
Dr Huang says they are particularly important this year because of swine flu.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/stories/2009/07/10/1245bba3d788
Middlemore hospital in South Auckland is restricting visitors, particularly children, as it copes with swine flu and other flu-like illnesses.
The restrictions take effect from Friday.
Counties Manukau District Health Board says there are to be no more than two visitors per patient in wards and only one visitor per patient in the emergency department.
The DHB says visiting must take place only during visiting hours and children should not visit at any time.
The rule applies to Middlemore hospital and the Manukau surgical centre.
Chief medical officer Don Mackie says the restrictions are to limit the number of people who are exposed to others with swine or seasonal flu.
Radio New Zealand]'s health correspondent says Middlemore has seven patients with swine flu and 30 others with flu-like symptoms. The hospital says it is extremely busy, but coping.
Hawke's Bay hospital also says it will strictly enforce visiting hours and limit the number of visitors per patient to two. Non-urgent surgery will resume next week but will be under daily review.
Wellington hospital - which is operating at full capacity - says anyone who visits with flu symptoms will be asked to leave.
Six deaths in New Zealand have been linked to swine flu.
Flu epidemics reached in some areas
Wellington, Taupo and Rotorua are experiencing flu epidemics according to the National Influenza Centre.
A weekly flu report from the centre says flu rates are highest among children and teenagers.
Sue Huang says it shows an alarming rise in the number of people with flu symptoms. Doctors are reporting their highest figures in 10 years.
She says about 80% of people with flu in the week to 5 July had swine flu rather than seasonal flu.
Weekly influenza reports are compiled each winter for the Environmental Science and Research agency.
Dr Huang says they are particularly important this year because of swine flu.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/stories/2009/07/10/1245bba3d788
