Roehl_JC
Moderator
NINE people with swine flu were receiving treatment at Raigmore Hospital yesterday as the health board reported an "increased" level of infection in the city, compared to other parts of the Highlands.
The patients were all being kept in an isolation ward.
It comes as an unnamed adult, who had swine flu and a significant underlying health condition, died on Wednesday, becoming the third person in the NHS Highland area to succumb to the virus since the outbreak.
No details about the deceased have been released by NHS Highland but a spokeswoman said 53 people have been admitted to its hospitals across the region with the H1NI infection - an increase from 26 patients since mid November.
The board of NHS Highland meets on Tuesday in Inverness and members will be told of "increased swine flu activity" in the city following a study of the number of prescriptions issued and school absences.
However, the board will hear that flu-like illness rates are still lower than the rest of the country.
However, cases of swine flu were still emerging in city primary schools yesterday.
There are now two children at Beauly with the infection. One was confirmed yesterday and the other at the start of the week. Nineteen of the school's 131 pupils were also absent.
A child at Smithton was also confirmed with swine flu yesterday, with 14 per cent of the 287 pupils off.
It follows a confirmed case at Dalneigh and two pupils at Central primary schools at the start of the week.
That adds to three confirmed cases at St Joseph's Primary School and Kinmylies (four), Merkinch (three), Bishop Eden (two), Duncan Forbes (two), Foyers (one) and Muirtown (one).
Contingency plans are also in place to increase the number of intensive care unit beds at Raigmore from eight to 20 with the Scottish Government having instructed health boards to prepare for an anticipated rise in cases.
"The usual capacity is currently proving sufficient to meet the demand," said an NHS Highland spokeswoman. "But we have the capacity to double the number, as recommended by the government if, and when required."
The NHS vaccination programme in Inverness - which has targeted at-risk groups of people - is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Despite the influenza's impact on schools, a Highland Council spokeswoman said no significant absentee rates had been recorded amongst its workforce in Inverness. "We have regular swine flu planning meetings and it is not something which has presented itself as an issue amongst sectors, or geographically," she said.
http://new.whtc.com/news/articles/2009/nov/26/sharp-increase-in-swine-flu-deaths-in-france/
The patients were all being kept in an isolation ward.
It comes as an unnamed adult, who had swine flu and a significant underlying health condition, died on Wednesday, becoming the third person in the NHS Highland area to succumb to the virus since the outbreak.
No details about the deceased have been released by NHS Highland but a spokeswoman said 53 people have been admitted to its hospitals across the region with the H1NI infection - an increase from 26 patients since mid November.
The board of NHS Highland meets on Tuesday in Inverness and members will be told of "increased swine flu activity" in the city following a study of the number of prescriptions issued and school absences.
However, the board will hear that flu-like illness rates are still lower than the rest of the country.
However, cases of swine flu were still emerging in city primary schools yesterday.
There are now two children at Beauly with the infection. One was confirmed yesterday and the other at the start of the week. Nineteen of the school's 131 pupils were also absent.
A child at Smithton was also confirmed with swine flu yesterday, with 14 per cent of the 287 pupils off.
It follows a confirmed case at Dalneigh and two pupils at Central primary schools at the start of the week.
That adds to three confirmed cases at St Joseph's Primary School and Kinmylies (four), Merkinch (three), Bishop Eden (two), Duncan Forbes (two), Foyers (one) and Muirtown (one).
Contingency plans are also in place to increase the number of intensive care unit beds at Raigmore from eight to 20 with the Scottish Government having instructed health boards to prepare for an anticipated rise in cases.
"The usual capacity is currently proving sufficient to meet the demand," said an NHS Highland spokeswoman. "But we have the capacity to double the number, as recommended by the government if, and when required."
The NHS vaccination programme in Inverness - which has targeted at-risk groups of people - is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Despite the influenza's impact on schools, a Highland Council spokeswoman said no significant absentee rates had been recorded amongst its workforce in Inverness. "We have regular swine flu planning meetings and it is not something which has presented itself as an issue amongst sectors, or geographically," she said.
http://new.whtc.com/news/articles/2009/nov/26/sharp-increase-in-swine-flu-deaths-in-france/
