Sally Furniss
Well-known member
More hospital staff get swine flu
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Workers at hospitals urged to be 'extra vigilant' to prevent spread to patients, other employees
May 12, 2009 04:30 AM
Theresa Boyle
<!-- CREDIT 1--> HEALTH REPORTER
<!-- ARTICLE CONTENT --> Staff at the University Health Network are being urged to be extra vigilant about infection control after three more employees tested positive for swine flu.
Health network spokesperson Gillian Howard confirmed last night that there are now four workers who have tested positive for the H1N1 virus, including one case reported last week. One of the employees has had patient contact.
Three of the infected staffers work at Princess Margaret Hospital, which specializes in cancer care. Howard would not reveal at which campus the fourth staffer works. The health network also comprises Toronto General Hospital and Toronto Western Hospital.
A bulletin to staff was to be posted on the UHN's website last night, asking staff to take care not to spread any bugs.
"I am asking all members of the PMH team and all patients at PMH to be extra vigilant with regard to flu symptoms," UHN president Robert Bell states in an advance copy of the bulletin obtained by the Star.
Two infected Princess Margaret employees caught the bug from a colleague, whose case was made public last week. That employee, plus one of the newly infected employees, is believed to have caught the virus in the community, Howard said.
A total of 110 Ontarians have tested positive for H1N1. All cases have been mild, with symptoms no worse than the seasonal flu. No one has required hospitalization.
Howard said she is not aware that any patient has contracted the virus from staff, but she said there is a concern this might happen.
She said UHN patients with cancer or awaiting or having undergone transplants might be more at risk from the flu.
"Our patients are always vulnerable ... I would say that our patients who are immune-compromised are already very alert to the fact they need to be careful," she said.
Howard emphasized patients and visitors should not be afraid to come to UHN.
"This flu could be caught anywhere," she said.
Howard said many employees are being tested for H1N1.
"I would say that we are swabbing many, many more people than we have ever swabbed before. That's because anybody who is presenting with these symptoms is getting swabbed," she explained, adding those being tested could include people merely suffering from allergies or non-swine strains of the flu.
There have been 61 deaths. Canada has reported a total of 330 H1N1 cases.
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/632835
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Workers at hospitals urged to be 'extra vigilant' to prevent spread to patients, other employees
May 12, 2009 04:30 AM
Theresa Boyle
<!-- CREDIT 1--> HEALTH REPORTER
<!-- ARTICLE CONTENT --> Staff at the University Health Network are being urged to be extra vigilant about infection control after three more employees tested positive for swine flu.
Health network spokesperson Gillian Howard confirmed last night that there are now four workers who have tested positive for the H1N1 virus, including one case reported last week. One of the employees has had patient contact.
Three of the infected staffers work at Princess Margaret Hospital, which specializes in cancer care. Howard would not reveal at which campus the fourth staffer works. The health network also comprises Toronto General Hospital and Toronto Western Hospital.
A bulletin to staff was to be posted on the UHN's website last night, asking staff to take care not to spread any bugs.
"I am asking all members of the PMH team and all patients at PMH to be extra vigilant with regard to flu symptoms," UHN president Robert Bell states in an advance copy of the bulletin obtained by the Star.
Two infected Princess Margaret employees caught the bug from a colleague, whose case was made public last week. That employee, plus one of the newly infected employees, is believed to have caught the virus in the community, Howard said.
A total of 110 Ontarians have tested positive for H1N1. All cases have been mild, with symptoms no worse than the seasonal flu. No one has required hospitalization.
Howard said she is not aware that any patient has contracted the virus from staff, but she said there is a concern this might happen.
She said UHN patients with cancer or awaiting or having undergone transplants might be more at risk from the flu.
"Our patients are always vulnerable ... I would say that our patients who are immune-compromised are already very alert to the fact they need to be careful," she said.
Howard emphasized patients and visitors should not be afraid to come to UHN.
"This flu could be caught anywhere," she said.
Howard said many employees are being tested for H1N1.
"I would say that we are swabbing many, many more people than we have ever swabbed before. That's because anybody who is presenting with these symptoms is getting swabbed," she explained, adding those being tested could include people merely suffering from allergies or non-swine strains of the flu.
There have been 61 deaths. Canada has reported a total of 330 H1N1 cases.
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/632835