Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2009/09/02/81011_ntnews.html
Swine flu rampant in NT
NADJA HAINKE
September 2nd, 2009
MORE than 80 per cent of all influenza cases in the Territory are swine flu, statistics reveal.
Figures from the NT Centre for Disease Control show the H1N1 virus is rampant in the Territory.
The new data says the percentage of swine flu cases compared to seasonal flu increased from just 8 per cent to 84 per cent between June and July.
The centre's acting director, Dr Peter Markey, said that the drastic increase occurred because most Territorians were not immune to the virus.
"Normally the flu changes a little bit every year," he said. "We were worried about the (swine) flu because it has made a big change in its structure. The majority of the community hasn't got the immunity and therefore it spreads more quickly.
"How quickly it will spread is hard to predict."
The figures come after the sixth swine flu-related death in the NT.
A 21-month-old boy died in Royal Darwin Hospital this week.
Seasonal influenza began to climb in late May this year when surveillance increased in a bid to reduce swine flu cases. Up to 8.2 per cent of all reported cases were swine flu in the first week.
But within six weeks the number jumped to 84 per cent.
Dr Markey said authorities were alerted when the first swine flu cases were confirmed.
"At that stage we knew how severe it was going to be and luckily it turned out not too bad," he said.
He said the virus's structure was expected to change once again.
"It will hang around. It won't disappear but it's likely to change a little bit again," he said.
There have been 21 new cases of swine flu in NT since Monday.
Four swine flu sufferers are in Royal Darwin Hospital and two in Alice Springs hospital.
Most Territorians affected by the swine flu were Aboriginal people living in remote communities.
The report revealed the reasons for this included:
HIGHLY mobile population, allowing an easy spread of the virus.
CROWDED living conditions.
POOR hygiene.
Culturally appropriate education programs have been implemented.
Swine flu rampant in NT
NADJA HAINKE
September 2nd, 2009
MORE than 80 per cent of all influenza cases in the Territory are swine flu, statistics reveal.
Figures from the NT Centre for Disease Control show the H1N1 virus is rampant in the Territory.
The new data says the percentage of swine flu cases compared to seasonal flu increased from just 8 per cent to 84 per cent between June and July.
The centre's acting director, Dr Peter Markey, said that the drastic increase occurred because most Territorians were not immune to the virus.
"Normally the flu changes a little bit every year," he said. "We were worried about the (swine) flu because it has made a big change in its structure. The majority of the community hasn't got the immunity and therefore it spreads more quickly.
"How quickly it will spread is hard to predict."
The figures come after the sixth swine flu-related death in the NT.
A 21-month-old boy died in Royal Darwin Hospital this week.
Seasonal influenza began to climb in late May this year when surveillance increased in a bid to reduce swine flu cases. Up to 8.2 per cent of all reported cases were swine flu in the first week.
But within six weeks the number jumped to 84 per cent.
Dr Markey said authorities were alerted when the first swine flu cases were confirmed.
"At that stage we knew how severe it was going to be and luckily it turned out not too bad," he said.
He said the virus's structure was expected to change once again.
"It will hang around. It won't disappear but it's likely to change a little bit again," he said.
There have been 21 new cases of swine flu in NT since Monday.
Four swine flu sufferers are in Royal Darwin Hospital and two in Alice Springs hospital.
Most Territorians affected by the swine flu were Aboriginal people living in remote communities.
The report revealed the reasons for this included:
HIGHLY mobile population, allowing an easy spread of the virus.
CROWDED living conditions.
POOR hygiene.
Culturally appropriate education programs have been implemented.