kiwibird
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http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/27/2637133.htm
Swine flu cases 'set to spike'
Posted 2 hours 9 minutes ago
WA's Health Department is preparing for a spike in swine flu cases.
There are more than 1,400 confirmed cases in WA. (ABC News)
Western Australia's Health Department is preparing for a spike in swine flu cases over the next few weeks.
There are more than 1,400 confirmed cases in WA, with 21 people admitted to hospital.
Seven people are being treated in intensive care.
The acting chief health officer, Andy Robertson, says four more machines that help oxygenate patients' blood are arriving within the next fortnight.
Dr Robertson says this will allow the hospitals to cope with the most difficult cases.
"We're still seeing increasing numbers of flu cases and we're expecting that we'll continue to see that for the next two to three weeks," he said.
"That means we're likely to get some more serious cases, including some that may require the use of these machines."
He says if the numbers increase rapidly, there is a plan to keep swine flu patients together.
"It's designed that the patients will go into just one ward and we can actually manage them best, and it also provides obviously less risk to other patients within the hospital."
Swine flu cases 'set to spike'
Posted 2 hours 9 minutes ago
WA's Health Department is preparing for a spike in swine flu cases.
There are more than 1,400 confirmed cases in WA. (ABC News)
Western Australia's Health Department is preparing for a spike in swine flu cases over the next few weeks.
There are more than 1,400 confirmed cases in WA, with 21 people admitted to hospital.
Seven people are being treated in intensive care.
The acting chief health officer, Andy Robertson, says four more machines that help oxygenate patients' blood are arriving within the next fortnight.
Dr Robertson says this will allow the hospitals to cope with the most difficult cases.
"We're still seeing increasing numbers of flu cases and we're expecting that we'll continue to see that for the next two to three weeks," he said.
"That means we're likely to get some more serious cases, including some that may require the use of these machines."
He says if the numbers increase rapidly, there is a plan to keep swine flu patients together.
"It's designed that the patients will go into just one ward and we can actually manage them best, and it also provides obviously less risk to other patients within the hospital."
