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Victorian swine flu sufferer dies
Herald SunJune 23, 2009
A 35-YEAR-OLD Victorian man has died in hospital with the H1N1 virus, health officials have confirmed.
The Herald Sun reports the Colac man, who had a range of significant underlying medical problems, is believed to have died from respiratory failure, the states's acting Chief Health Officer Dr Rosemary Lester said today.
Dr Lester said the man arrived at Colac Hospital on Friday with influenza-like illness.
“Once seen, he was intubated and ventilated to assist his breathing and transferred to the intensive care unit at Maroondah Hospital the same day,” Dr Lester said.
“Unfortunately, the man’s condition deteriorated and he died on Saturday evening,” Dr Lester said.
Swabs were taken due to his clinical history and the state's health department was advised by the laboratory that he tested positive for H1N1, Dr Lester said.
She reiterated that in the vast majority of cases, human swine flu remains a mild illness from which many people recover without any medical treatment.
"However, we know that for people with chronic medical conditions, influenza can be severe," she said.
In Victoria there have been 1406 cases of human swine flu diagnosed as a result of laboratory testing, Dr Lester said.
Victoria is now operating in the new "protect" phase as part of the ongoing response to the virus, which focuses on people from high risk groups with flu-like symptoms.
A West Australian man on Friday became the first Australian with swine flu.
The 26-year-old died in the Royal Adelaide Hospital after being diagnosed with the virus on Thursday, but had also been suffering from a number of other serious health conditions.
Herald SunJune 23, 2009
A 35-YEAR-OLD Victorian man has died in hospital with the H1N1 virus, health officials have confirmed.
The Herald Sun reports the Colac man, who had a range of significant underlying medical problems, is believed to have died from respiratory failure, the states's acting Chief Health Officer Dr Rosemary Lester said today.
Dr Lester said the man arrived at Colac Hospital on Friday with influenza-like illness.
“Once seen, he was intubated and ventilated to assist his breathing and transferred to the intensive care unit at Maroondah Hospital the same day,” Dr Lester said.
“Unfortunately, the man’s condition deteriorated and he died on Saturday evening,” Dr Lester said.
Swabs were taken due to his clinical history and the state's health department was advised by the laboratory that he tested positive for H1N1, Dr Lester said.
She reiterated that in the vast majority of cases, human swine flu remains a mild illness from which many people recover without any medical treatment.
"However, we know that for people with chronic medical conditions, influenza can be severe," she said.
In Victoria there have been 1406 cases of human swine flu diagnosed as a result of laboratory testing, Dr Lester said.
Victoria is now operating in the new "protect" phase as part of the ongoing response to the virus, which focuses on people from high risk groups with flu-like symptoms.
A West Australian man on Friday became the first Australian with swine flu.
The 26-year-old died in the Royal Adelaide Hospital after being diagnosed with the virus on Thursday, but had also been suffering from a number of other serious health conditions.
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