ID :
67923
Fri, 06/26/2009 - 18:26
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https://oananews.org//node/67923
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Fourth swine flu sufferer dies
A 71-year-old Melbourne woman has become the fourth Australian with swine flu to die.
Victoria's health department was notified of the woman's death late on Thursday
night but her family has requested that no details of her medical history be
released.
Acting health chief Rosemary Lester insists swine flu is generally mild but can have
adverse effects on those with pre-existing medical conditions.
"It is important to remember that in the vast majority of cases, human swine flu is
a mild illness which many people recover from without any medical treatment," she
said in a statement.
"However, we know that for people with chronic medical conditions, influenza can be
severe."
The death follows that of a 50-year-old long-term cancer sufferer who died at the
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne on Wednesday.
Authorities said at the time another person at the centre had also been diagnosed
with swine flu.
A spokesman for the Department of Human Services said the latest victim was not the
other swine flu sufferer at the Peter MacCallum Centre.
A 35-year-old obese and diabetic man from Colac in western Victoria and a
26-year-old man from a remote Aboriginal community in Western Australia died last
week.
Dr Lester said high-risk people, including those who are pregnant or have
respiratory diseases such as asthma, heart disease, diabetes, renal disease or are
obese should see their doctor if they have flu symptoms.
There have been 1,509 cases of swine flu diagnosed in Victoria while there are many
milder cases in the community that have not been tested, Dr Lester said.
A total of 3,519 people have been diagnosed with the potentially deadly virus across
Australia, according to federal government figures released on Friday afternoon.
Meanwhile, a five-year-old girl and nine-year-old boy with swine flu have been
admitted to NSW hospital intensive care units.
The children are among four swine flu sufferers who are currently in isolation in
NSW hospitals.
The girl had no pre-existing medical risk factors for severe influenza, while the
boy had a medical history of asthma.
"This is the very confronting side of H1N1 influenza 09 that can't and shouldn't be
dismissed," NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant said in a statement.
NSW Health warned that previously minor outbreaks of the virus have led to an
"increasing level of community transmission" and a spokeswoman confirmed that meant
the virus was spreading with greater efficiency across affected parts of the
country.
NSW Health urged people to take precautions such as washing hands regularly or
staying away from work if they had flu symptoms.
Victoria's health department was notified of the woman's death late on Thursday
night but her family has requested that no details of her medical history be
released.
Acting health chief Rosemary Lester insists swine flu is generally mild but can have
adverse effects on those with pre-existing medical conditions.
"It is important to remember that in the vast majority of cases, human swine flu is
a mild illness which many people recover from without any medical treatment," she
said in a statement.
"However, we know that for people with chronic medical conditions, influenza can be
severe."
The death follows that of a 50-year-old long-term cancer sufferer who died at the
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne on Wednesday.
Authorities said at the time another person at the centre had also been diagnosed
with swine flu.
A spokesman for the Department of Human Services said the latest victim was not the
other swine flu sufferer at the Peter MacCallum Centre.
A 35-year-old obese and diabetic man from Colac in western Victoria and a
26-year-old man from a remote Aboriginal community in Western Australia died last
week.
Dr Lester said high-risk people, including those who are pregnant or have
respiratory diseases such as asthma, heart disease, diabetes, renal disease or are
obese should see their doctor if they have flu symptoms.
There have been 1,509 cases of swine flu diagnosed in Victoria while there are many
milder cases in the community that have not been tested, Dr Lester said.
A total of 3,519 people have been diagnosed with the potentially deadly virus across
Australia, according to federal government figures released on Friday afternoon.
Meanwhile, a five-year-old girl and nine-year-old boy with swine flu have been
admitted to NSW hospital intensive care units.
The children are among four swine flu sufferers who are currently in isolation in
NSW hospitals.
The girl had no pre-existing medical risk factors for severe influenza, while the
boy had a medical history of asthma.
"This is the very confronting side of H1N1 influenza 09 that can't and shouldn't be
dismissed," NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant said in a statement.
NSW Health warned that previously minor outbreaks of the virus have led to an
"increasing level of community transmission" and a spokeswoman confirmed that meant
the virus was spreading with greater efficiency across affected parts of the
country.
NSW Health urged people to take precautions such as washing hands regularly or
staying away from work if they had flu symptoms.
