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Source: http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/ne...t-to-transplant-games-averted-92746-24288103/
Swine flu threat to Transplant Games averted
Aug 1 2009 by Warren Manger, Coventry Telegraph
CITY health bosses had to make special plans to save this weekend?s Transplant Games from the threat of swine flu.
The games are currently being held in Coventry but there were fears the rapid spread of swine flu in the West Midlands could ruin the event.
Many of the organ recipients who are taking part in the Transplant Games have immune system deficiencies, leaving them at particularly risk of catching the highly contagious virus.
Coventry health chiefs met with organisers Transplant Sport and the Health Protection Agency to make sure the games could proceed safely.
Richard Hancox, swine flu director for city health trust NHS Coventry, said: ?We have worked out how best to support the games going ahead.?We have put in place contigency plans in case anyone should become ill, making sure that anti-virals and doctors are in place to treat them.?
Despite the plans Transplant Sport posted a warning to athletes on its website which read: ?At the end of the day we cannot guarantee that participants will not be exposed to swine flu, and if anyone has concerns about attending the event, it is up to them to make a decision as to whether they attend.?
Health chiefs have also warned people in Coventry against buying Tamiflu over the internet.
Media reports claim fraudsters have been faking the swine flu symptoms to get drugs then selling them online.
Mike Attwood, joint chief executive at NHS Coventry, said the city?s controls were as tight as possible and he was not aware of a problem locally.
?There will also be some degree of it happening because we are tying to balance how to get antivirals to a large swathe of the population as safely as possible,? he said.
?But there is no shortage of Tamiflu and I would urge people to get it in a safe and free way through the NHS.
Swine flu threat to Transplant Games averted
Aug 1 2009 by Warren Manger, Coventry Telegraph
CITY health bosses had to make special plans to save this weekend?s Transplant Games from the threat of swine flu.
The games are currently being held in Coventry but there were fears the rapid spread of swine flu in the West Midlands could ruin the event.
Many of the organ recipients who are taking part in the Transplant Games have immune system deficiencies, leaving them at particularly risk of catching the highly contagious virus.
Coventry health chiefs met with organisers Transplant Sport and the Health Protection Agency to make sure the games could proceed safely.
Richard Hancox, swine flu director for city health trust NHS Coventry, said: ?We have worked out how best to support the games going ahead.?We have put in place contigency plans in case anyone should become ill, making sure that anti-virals and doctors are in place to treat them.?
Despite the plans Transplant Sport posted a warning to athletes on its website which read: ?At the end of the day we cannot guarantee that participants will not be exposed to swine flu, and if anyone has concerns about attending the event, it is up to them to make a decision as to whether they attend.?
Health chiefs have also warned people in Coventry against buying Tamiflu over the internet.
Media reports claim fraudsters have been faking the swine flu symptoms to get drugs then selling them online.
Mike Attwood, joint chief executive at NHS Coventry, said the city?s controls were as tight as possible and he was not aware of a problem locally.
?There will also be some degree of it happening because we are tying to balance how to get antivirals to a large swathe of the population as safely as possible,? he said.
?But there is no shortage of Tamiflu and I would urge people to get it in a safe and free way through the NHS.