Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/6/29/focus/4215637&sec=focus
Monday June 29, 2009
Sickening measures to curb outbreak
DIFFERENT countries seem to be responding differently to the A (H1N1) outbreak. In the US, for instance, there are no thermal scanners at airports. In Japan, with more than 900 cases, travellers only need to fill a health declaration form.
In Singapore and Malaysia, airports have thermal scanners, hospitals have special tents for suspected cases, quarantine is mandatory and schools have been closed.
Although new, this flu does not appear to be dangerous. The latest WHO update on June 26, lists 59,814 confirmed cases with only 263 deaths, giving a mortality rate of less than 0.5%.
Our response to A (H1N1) may have been inappropriately influenced by the experience with SARS which had a mortality rate ranging from 15% to 19%.
In fact, the American Centre for Disease Control (CDC) states that ?not all patients with suspected A (H1N1) need to be seen by a healthcare provider, only patients with severe illness or those at high risk of complications?.
It then goes on to give detailed advice on how to care for a patient at home, and how to prevent spread among members of the same household. Here, we quarantine the entire household, forbidding them from even going out for food.
In fact, the CDC also states that ?not all people with suspected A (H1N1) infection need to have the diagnosis confirmed, especially if the illness is mild?.
Instead of expanding the number of people quarantined, forcing employers to give full pay, unrecorded leave and increasing the strain on our healthcare personnel, we may do better if we adhere to the CDC?s recommendations.
The Health Ministry Director-General has initiated numerous measures in place to contain the outbreak. Yet, patients have expressed unhappiness after going through the measures.
We are using valuable healthcare resources, both human and material, in this containment policy against A(H1N1).
Should we not be proactive, look at the situation of those ahead of us in their experience of A (H1N1), save on resources and avoid unnecessary, hurtful and ultimately unsuccessful endeavours?
Should we not treat A (H1N1) for what
it is, a new and highly infectious, probably uncomfortable, but not at all serious or
dangerous for those without underlying
illness?
We must not make the treatment more unpleasant than the disease itself.
Dr ONG HEAN TEIK,
George Town.
Monday June 29, 2009
Sickening measures to curb outbreak
DIFFERENT countries seem to be responding differently to the A (H1N1) outbreak. In the US, for instance, there are no thermal scanners at airports. In Japan, with more than 900 cases, travellers only need to fill a health declaration form.
In Singapore and Malaysia, airports have thermal scanners, hospitals have special tents for suspected cases, quarantine is mandatory and schools have been closed.
Although new, this flu does not appear to be dangerous. The latest WHO update on June 26, lists 59,814 confirmed cases with only 263 deaths, giving a mortality rate of less than 0.5%.
Our response to A (H1N1) may have been inappropriately influenced by the experience with SARS which had a mortality rate ranging from 15% to 19%.
In fact, the American Centre for Disease Control (CDC) states that ?not all patients with suspected A (H1N1) need to be seen by a healthcare provider, only patients with severe illness or those at high risk of complications?.
It then goes on to give detailed advice on how to care for a patient at home, and how to prevent spread among members of the same household. Here, we quarantine the entire household, forbidding them from even going out for food.
In fact, the CDC also states that ?not all people with suspected A (H1N1) infection need to have the diagnosis confirmed, especially if the illness is mild?.
Instead of expanding the number of people quarantined, forcing employers to give full pay, unrecorded leave and increasing the strain on our healthcare personnel, we may do better if we adhere to the CDC?s recommendations.
The Health Ministry Director-General has initiated numerous measures in place to contain the outbreak. Yet, patients have expressed unhappiness after going through the measures.
We are using valuable healthcare resources, both human and material, in this containment policy against A(H1N1).
Should we not be proactive, look at the situation of those ahead of us in their experience of A (H1N1), save on resources and avoid unnecessary, hurtful and ultimately unsuccessful endeavours?
Should we not treat A (H1N1) for what
it is, a new and highly infectious, probably uncomfortable, but not at all serious or
dangerous for those without underlying
illness?
We must not make the treatment more unpleasant than the disease itself.
Dr ONG HEAN TEIK,
George Town.