NZ Canterbury, swine flu and the two strains of seasonal influenza

Virus rampant in Canterbury
By KIM THOMAS - The Press
Last updated 05:00 23/06/2009

Virus rampant in Canterbury
By KIM THOMAS - The Press

Cantabrians are being hit with a double whammy of swine flu and seasonal influenza as GPs don masks and gowns to stave off infection.

Canterbury virologist Dr Lance Jennings said the influenza season had "kicked in", with many cases of swine flu and the two strains of seasonal influenza being picked up.

Every year an average 400 people nationwide die from influenza.

It was likely, with the combination of the more contagious and nasty swine flu with seasonal influenza, that this year's total could be higher, Jennings said.

Within the next fortnight this influenza combination would hit the health sector, affecting its ability to care for flu patients and those with other illnesses.

Wellington Hospital, particularly, was already struggling with large numbers of staff off sick, he said.

Christchurch Hospital staff were reasonably well now but this was likely to change as influenza spread, Jennings said. It was estimated between 30 and 50 per cent of the population would fall ill.

It was likely elective surgery would have to be postponed if too many hospital staff became unwell, he said.

Elective surgery in Canterbury was cancelled for three weeks in 1996 when the region struggled with a particularly nasty bout of influenza, Jennings said.

Canterbury pandemic planning team adviser Dr Paul McCormack said that from yesterday every GP, pharmacist and district nurse was being advised to wear a mask and gloves while seeing patients.

"We want to keep our health workforce intact."

People with swine flu were contagious for up to two days before showing symptoms so health workers unknowingly be exposed, he said.

Medical staff would not be given Tamiflu to avoid getting influenza but it had not yet been decided whether they would be issued with it if unwell, McCormack said. Tamiflu could shorten the cycle of the virus and mean fewer days off work.

Health officials were relying on people to help slow the spread of influenza, and its effect on the health system, by being vigilant about personal hygiene, he said.

This meant frequent hand washing, containing sneezes and coughs and staying at home as soon as they became unwell, he said.

Disappointingly, some people with flu symptoms had visited Christchurch's 24-hour surgery over the weekend.

Mask-wearing staff were now screening people at the door to ensure those with influenza did not mingle with other patients, McCormack said.

The number of people in Canterbury with confirmed cases of swine flu yesterday remained at 93, although testing of all suspected cases has ceased.

Nationwide there were more than 300 confirmed cases of Influenza A (H1N1) infection, with two-thirds of cases confirmed in the past week.
hat-tip Sally