tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
HEALTH authorities are asking people at risk of contracting swine flu to be on alert after two men were admitted to hospital.
The men, aged 39 and 53, are in intensive care at Cairns Base Hospital after being struck down with the H1N1 virus.
Infectious disease specialist Dr Enzo Binotto said the cases were locally-acquired, raising concerns that more people could become infected.
"It's still around this year, although the rate is much lower than last year," he said.
"We want to alert people that it's not gone and if you're in one of the risk groups and are not vaccinated ? seek medical attention early."
Dr Binotto said other cases of swine flu this year must have gone unreported and the local men would have contracted the virus from another infected person.
Hundreds of Cairns residents contracted swine flu during the first wave of the pandemic last year.
Forty-one Queenslanders died from it, including seven people in Cairns.
Pregnant women, people with respiratory diseases such as asthma, indigenous people, and those with chronic diseases or who are obese are vulnerable to swine flu.
Only 17 per cent of Far Northern residents have been vaccinated against swine flu this year, which is 2 per cent higher than the state average.
Dr Binotto said at-risk people could still contract the virus regardless of whether they were vaccinated.
People who have not been vaccinated may find it difficult to do so as the flu season comes to a close, he said.
"Normally, by the end of September most influenza cases start to wane. We?re hoping it's only going to be four to six weeks of this worrisome period," Dr Binotto said.
Swine flu symptoms include fever with respiratory symptoms such as a sore throat or headache.
Good hygiene can stop the virus from spreading.
http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2010/08/21/123381_local-news.html
The men, aged 39 and 53, are in intensive care at Cairns Base Hospital after being struck down with the H1N1 virus.
Infectious disease specialist Dr Enzo Binotto said the cases were locally-acquired, raising concerns that more people could become infected.
"It's still around this year, although the rate is much lower than last year," he said.
"We want to alert people that it's not gone and if you're in one of the risk groups and are not vaccinated ? seek medical attention early."
Dr Binotto said other cases of swine flu this year must have gone unreported and the local men would have contracted the virus from another infected person.
Hundreds of Cairns residents contracted swine flu during the first wave of the pandemic last year.
Forty-one Queenslanders died from it, including seven people in Cairns.
Pregnant women, people with respiratory diseases such as asthma, indigenous people, and those with chronic diseases or who are obese are vulnerable to swine flu.
Only 17 per cent of Far Northern residents have been vaccinated against swine flu this year, which is 2 per cent higher than the state average.
Dr Binotto said at-risk people could still contract the virus regardless of whether they were vaccinated.
People who have not been vaccinated may find it difficult to do so as the flu season comes to a close, he said.
"Normally, by the end of September most influenza cases start to wane. We?re hoping it's only going to be four to six weeks of this worrisome period," Dr Binotto said.
Swine flu symptoms include fever with respiratory symptoms such as a sore throat or headache.
Good hygiene can stop the virus from spreading.
http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2010/08/21/123381_local-news.html