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Source: http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?s...2957313C446124
Durban man dies of swine flu
Latoya Newman
August 05 2009 at 05:11AM
A Durban man has died at a local hospital of swine flu, health authorities confirmed on Tuesday.
They say there are 29 confirmed cases of the flu in KwaZulu-Natal.
The 44-year-old Phoenix man, who was not identified, died at Life Mount Edgecombe Hospital last Wednesday, becoming the second person in the country to die of the virus.
The first was Stellenbosch University student Ruan Muller, 22, who died last week on Tuesday.
Life Healthcare spokeswoman Leanne Miltun said the Phoenix man had been admitted to the intensive care unit with suspected pneumonia.
"Because of the seriousness of the condition, he was treated in an isolation ward," she said.
"Following his admission, a blood specimen was sent for pathological testing for H1N1 (swine flu virus) by his doctor, as he had recently returned from a trip to Swaziland. It was today confirmed that he had tested positively for the H1N1 virus."
Miltun said the hospital was working closely with the Health Department and the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, which had both been notified of the death.
"In addition to all safety protocols having been followed, as an additional precautionary measure, staff caring for the patient will receive prophylactic treatment.
"Even though they should not be affected, the hospital will contact all patients who had been treated in the intensive care unit at the same time, now that H1N1 has been confirmed," she said.
The KZN Health Department said it was aware of 29 confirmed cases of swine flu infections in the province as of Monday.
But spokesman Chris Maxon said there was no need to panic.
"KZN is sitting with a very low occurrence rate. We have not reached an outbreak level (where many people are affected in one area) as yet," he said.
Maxon said his department would investigate the Phoenix case further.
He said anyone with suspected symptoms was put on treatment and advised to stay at home to avoid spreading the flu.
"If you have flu-like symptoms and high fever, please consult your nearest clinic or doctor," he said.
Miltun said anyone requiring additional information on the Phoenix case should call the hospital manager at 031....
Caryn Dolley reports that the Cape province's Health Department was "on very high alert" and in "full emergency mode" to tackle the rapidly spreading virus.
On Tuesday, the number of confirmed swine flu cases in the Western Cape rocketed to more than 136, four times the number reported last week. The figure was expected to increase daily.
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases estimates there are now confirmed 700 swine flu cases in the country.
Cape Health Department spokeswoman Faiza Steyn said the department was in "full emergency mode" to try to stem the spread of the virus.
Meanwhile, in Washington, health officials raised the alarm about a strain of swine flu that is resistant to the Tamiflu treatment, as the virus claimed more lives around the world yesterday, with Vietnam reporting its first fatal case, reports Sapa-AFP.
Maria Teresa Cerqueira, head of the Pan-American Health Organisation office in La Jolla, California, said a Tamiflu-resistant mutation of the H1N1 virus had been found in El Paso near the US-Mexico border and close to McAllen, Texas.
Experts had gathered in La Jolla, California, yesterday to discuss responses to the outbreak, and warned that resistant strains were likely emerging because of overuse of antivirals like Tamiflu.
"In the US, Tamiflu is sold with a prescription, but in Mexico and Canada it is sold freely and taken at the first sneeze.
Then, when it is really needed, it doesn't work," said Cerqueira late on Tuesday.
Durban man dies of swine flu
Latoya Newman
August 05 2009 at 05:11AM
A Durban man has died at a local hospital of swine flu, health authorities confirmed on Tuesday.
They say there are 29 confirmed cases of the flu in KwaZulu-Natal.
The 44-year-old Phoenix man, who was not identified, died at Life Mount Edgecombe Hospital last Wednesday, becoming the second person in the country to die of the virus.
The first was Stellenbosch University student Ruan Muller, 22, who died last week on Tuesday.
Life Healthcare spokeswoman Leanne Miltun said the Phoenix man had been admitted to the intensive care unit with suspected pneumonia.
"Because of the seriousness of the condition, he was treated in an isolation ward," she said.
"Following his admission, a blood specimen was sent for pathological testing for H1N1 (swine flu virus) by his doctor, as he had recently returned from a trip to Swaziland. It was today confirmed that he had tested positively for the H1N1 virus."
Miltun said the hospital was working closely with the Health Department and the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, which had both been notified of the death.
"In addition to all safety protocols having been followed, as an additional precautionary measure, staff caring for the patient will receive prophylactic treatment.
"Even though they should not be affected, the hospital will contact all patients who had been treated in the intensive care unit at the same time, now that H1N1 has been confirmed," she said.
The KZN Health Department said it was aware of 29 confirmed cases of swine flu infections in the province as of Monday.
But spokesman Chris Maxon said there was no need to panic.
"KZN is sitting with a very low occurrence rate. We have not reached an outbreak level (where many people are affected in one area) as yet," he said.
Maxon said his department would investigate the Phoenix case further.
He said anyone with suspected symptoms was put on treatment and advised to stay at home to avoid spreading the flu.
"If you have flu-like symptoms and high fever, please consult your nearest clinic or doctor," he said.
Miltun said anyone requiring additional information on the Phoenix case should call the hospital manager at 031....
Caryn Dolley reports that the Cape province's Health Department was "on very high alert" and in "full emergency mode" to tackle the rapidly spreading virus.
On Tuesday, the number of confirmed swine flu cases in the Western Cape rocketed to more than 136, four times the number reported last week. The figure was expected to increase daily.
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases estimates there are now confirmed 700 swine flu cases in the country.
Cape Health Department spokeswoman Faiza Steyn said the department was in "full emergency mode" to try to stem the spread of the virus.
Meanwhile, in Washington, health officials raised the alarm about a strain of swine flu that is resistant to the Tamiflu treatment, as the virus claimed more lives around the world yesterday, with Vietnam reporting its first fatal case, reports Sapa-AFP.
Maria Teresa Cerqueira, head of the Pan-American Health Organisation office in La Jolla, California, said a Tamiflu-resistant mutation of the H1N1 virus had been found in El Paso near the US-Mexico border and close to McAllen, Texas.
Experts had gathered in La Jolla, California, yesterday to discuss responses to the outbreak, and warned that resistant strains were likely emerging because of overuse of antivirals like Tamiflu.
"In the US, Tamiflu is sold with a prescription, but in Mexico and Canada it is sold freely and taken at the first sneeze.
Then, when it is really needed, it doesn't work," said Cerqueira late on Tuesday.
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