http://www.kob.com/article/stories/s1190477.shtml?cat=504
Hospital sees record number of flu patients
Posted at: 10/13/2009 9:12 PM | Updated at: 10/13/2009 9:23 PM
By: Erisa Nakano, Eyewitness News 4; Matthew Kappus, KOB.com
San Juan Regional Medical Center
A big jump in the number of confirmed H1N1 cases in the Four Corners area is forcing hospital staff to be extra careful with their health.
The San Juan Regional Medical Center in Farmington saw a record number of patients in the ER Monday. In the last month, six people have been hospitalized with H1N1.
Doctors can’t stress it enough—if you think you have the flu, don’t go to the hospital unless your symptoms are severe.
“These are all things that are so important not only in protecting other patients who are ill or sick or injured with other things while they’re in the hospital, but as well as preventing staff and family members from getting ill,” said emergency physician Eric Ketcham.
The medical center implemented new rules this week to prevent the spread of the flu.
“You may see a lot of people in the waiting areas with masks on. We want to minimize exposure to people that come in with a broken leg or a sprained ankle that don’t have the flu,” the medical center’s Penny Hill said.
The state health department doesn’t want children under the age of 14 visiting the hospital. Doctors say the flu virus stays with children longer than adults. They also don’t want people who are already sick visiting.
On Tuesday, the hospital received its first batch of 100 H1N1 nasal spray vaccine. It will go to medical staff who have direct contact with patients.
The medical center expects a shipment of the H1N1 flu vaccine to arrive later in October that will be available to the public.
Pregnant woman with swine flu dies
Oct 15 2009
A pregnant teenage woman has died after contracting swine flu.
The 17-year-old woman, who was from the Borders, died “in the last 24 hours”, said a spokesman for Scottish Government.
A total of 106 people suffering from swine flu have now died in the UK, said Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson.
He said there had been 83 deaths in England, 15 in Scotland, four in Wales and four in Northern Ireland.
Scotland’s Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: “The death of this young mother-to-be and her baby is deeply saddening and my thoughts are with her family and friends.
“Medical experts have been telling us that pregnant women are more vulnerable to developing complications after contracting the virus. For this reason, they will be among the priority groups for vaccination when the H1N1 vaccine becomes available later this month.
“I would urge all pregnant women to get vaccinated to ensure the maximum protection for themselves and their babies.”
Meanwhile, it was announced that the swine flu vaccination programme in Scotland will start next week.
A total of 1.3 million people are in the Scottish priority groups for the first stage of the H1N1 vaccination programme, which begins on October 21.