Ambulance crew hit by flu
DANIELLE McKAY
June 04, 2009 01:15pm
A TASMANIAN ambulance crew has been struck down by swine flu with two confirmed cases and another nine ordered off work.
The North West ambulance service now has to operate with 15 per cent fewer staff.
There are now five confirmed cases of swine flu in Tasmania.
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SWINE FLU HOTLINE: 1800 358 362 (1800 FLU DOC)
ANorth West woman has also become the state's first hospitalised case ofswine flu, when she was admitted to the North West Regional hospitalyesterday. Health minister Lara Giddings said four of the fiveconfirmed cases remain in isolation, along with 24 possible casesstate-wide.
Ms Giddings warned that unless the community tookthe swine flu threat seriously that the crisis in the ambulance servicewould hit more and more Tasmanian services.
"If people don'ttake this seriously and put in precautionary measures to try and avoidgetting swine flu, this could have a huge impact on our health service,our education service, on our businesses, on our tourism," she said.
Ms Giddings said the North West ambulance problem is an example of how the flu might affect other sectors of the community.
"If people don't take it seriously this sort of thing will happen around Tasmania."
Swine flu is now officially out of control in Victoria, prompting health authorities to abandon testing all but the most severe cases.
School closures will cease and home quarantine restricted to suspected cases, but not their close contacts.
Asthe number of confirmed Victorian cases hit 521, the Federal Governmentput the state on a higher pandemic alert than the rest of Australia.
But footy games and other mass gatherings will go ahead, against the advice of the nation's pandemic response plan.
Ms Giddings reassured North-West residents that regular ambulance services would be maintained.
"We have to put in measures to support the ongoing ambulance service onthe North-West Coast to ensure there are no hiccups, so that thecommunity does not see a difference in the level of services there.
"It does mean staff are now having to do overtime and we may have to call other staff back from annual leave."
Tasmanian Public Health acting director Chrissie Pickin again urgedTasmanians, especially those most vulnerable, to be vigilant.
"Iwant to reiterate that while this virus produces mild symptoms in amajority of cases, this is not the case for some people," Dr Pickinsaid.
"People at higher risk, including pregnant women andpeople suffering from chronic conditions, need to take extraprecautions and care.
"We still believe there is no widespread community transmission in Tasmania at this stage."
Phone 1800 358 362 (1800 FLU DOC) without delay if you develop aflu-like illness (fever, cough, sore throat, blocked/runny nose) withinseven days of travel to Victoria or other significantly affected areas(Mexico, USA, Canada), or within seven days of contact with someonesuspected of having Human Swine Influenza.
Dr Pickin urged sufferers to phone the number before going to a hospital, pharmacy or your GP.
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