Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
More swine flu victims need hospital care
2:06pm Thursday 10th December 2009
A HIGHER percentage of people in Oxfordshire who contract swine flu are needing hospital treatment, including an increasing number of children.
According to NHS Oxfordshire, 113 people have been hospitalised with the illness since the outbreak began in July.
The majority of people being placed in critical care units are pregnant women, and those with long-term illnesses, such as heart or lung diseases.
Dr Tom Porter, acting consultant in public health for Oxfordshire, said: ?Over the past month, the number of children in Oxfordshire needing hospital care after contracting swine flu has risen. On the whole, we?re reassured the disease seems to be mild in most people and it looks like the second wave is finishing.
?But what we?re still getting is a small but significant number of people needing hospital treatment for swine flu.
?We would therefore urge individuals who are currently eligible for the swine flu vaccine to get the jab.?
He said it was not known why more people needed hospital care, but it could be a combination of the swine flu, with other winter illnesses.
At the height of the last outbreak, more than 700 doses of Tamiflu per day were handed out in the county.
http://www.thisisoxfordshire.co.uk/news/4788098.More_swine_flu_victims_need_hospital_care/?ref=rss
2:06pm Thursday 10th December 2009
A HIGHER percentage of people in Oxfordshire who contract swine flu are needing hospital treatment, including an increasing number of children.
According to NHS Oxfordshire, 113 people have been hospitalised with the illness since the outbreak began in July.
The majority of people being placed in critical care units are pregnant women, and those with long-term illnesses, such as heart or lung diseases.
Dr Tom Porter, acting consultant in public health for Oxfordshire, said: ?Over the past month, the number of children in Oxfordshire needing hospital care after contracting swine flu has risen. On the whole, we?re reassured the disease seems to be mild in most people and it looks like the second wave is finishing.
?But what we?re still getting is a small but significant number of people needing hospital treatment for swine flu.
?We would therefore urge individuals who are currently eligible for the swine flu vaccine to get the jab.?
He said it was not known why more people needed hospital care, but it could be a combination of the swine flu, with other winter illnesses.
At the height of the last outbreak, more than 700 doses of Tamiflu per day were handed out in the county.
http://www.thisisoxfordshire.co.uk/news/4788098.More_swine_flu_victims_need_hospital_care/?ref=rss