Via Wales Online :
" Health experts are continuing to investigate a flu outbreak which has killed two residents of a Cardiff care home.
Seven residents of the Dorothy Lewis Residential Home, in Canton, are still being treated in hospital after contracting the common winter virus.
In all, 20 of the home’s 33 residents and many of the staff have suffered flu-like symptoms since February 19.
All have fallen ill with the H3N2 strain of flu, which is different to swine flu, which was responsible for the 2009 pandemic.
Dr Marion Lyons, the lead consultant in communicable disease control for Public Health Wales, said: “It is not unusual to see outbreaks of influenza in elderly care homes.
“Unfortunately, elderly patients – many of whom will have many other illnesses – are more susceptible to the virus and struggle to fight off the disease.
“Sometimes those who are extremely ill with other conditions contract flu and die, not just because of the flu virus but because they were in a vulnerable condition to begin with.
“Public Health Wales will continue to work with the residential home to monitor the situation."
Showing posts with label Wales. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wales. Show all posts
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Friday, March 2, 2012
Wales : Two people die after flu outbreak at Canton residential home in Cardiff
Via Wales Online :
" TWO people have died and another seven are in hospital after an outbreak of flu at a Cardiff residential home.
A total of 20 out of 33 residents at the Dorothy Lewis Residential Home in Canton, Cardiff, have developed flu-like symptoms since February 19.
Out of the 40 members of staff, nine have also developed similar symptoms, Public Health Wales said. None have been hospitalised.
It’s understood the people affected have contracted the H3N2 strain of flu – not swine flu, which has been responsible for scores of deaths over the last two years in Wales.
Residents at the home who have not yet developed symptoms are being treated with Tamiflu to lessen the severity of the symptoms should it develop.
Public Health Wales said that microbiological testing had indicated the H3N2 strain, which is a normal strain of flu and was included in this year’s flu vaccine."
" TWO people have died and another seven are in hospital after an outbreak of flu at a Cardiff residential home.
A total of 20 out of 33 residents at the Dorothy Lewis Residential Home in Canton, Cardiff, have developed flu-like symptoms since February 19.
Out of the 40 members of staff, nine have also developed similar symptoms, Public Health Wales said. None have been hospitalised.
It’s understood the people affected have contracted the H3N2 strain of flu – not swine flu, which has been responsible for scores of deaths over the last two years in Wales.
Residents at the home who have not yet developed symptoms are being treated with Tamiflu to lessen the severity of the symptoms should it develop.
Public Health Wales said that microbiological testing had indicated the H3N2 strain, which is a normal strain of flu and was included in this year’s flu vaccine."
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Wales : Abergavenny farmer fears Schmallenberg virus will hit livestock
Via BBC News, excerpt :
" A farmer says it is only a matter of time before the Schmallenberg virus which causes birth defects and miscarriages in livestock reaches Wales.
Chief vet Dr Christianne Glossop said tests have been held on Welsh farms but there have been no confirmed cases.
The disease has been affecting livestock in England."
" A farmer says it is only a matter of time before the Schmallenberg virus which causes birth defects and miscarriages in livestock reaches Wales.
Chief vet Dr Christianne Glossop said tests have been held on Welsh farms but there have been no confirmed cases.
The disease has been affecting livestock in England."
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Wales : Avian flu still likely to strike in humans, says Welsh expert
Via Wales Online :
" THE threat of bird flu crossing over to humans and igniting a pandemic remains real, one of Wales’ leading experts on health and disaster management has claimed.
Alan Hawley, who until recently was the UK’s Director General of Army Medical Services, said climate change and international food scarcity has the potential to spread social and economic chaos across the globe.
His comments follow the decision of the Assembly Government to reduce the surveillance of live wild birds for avian influenza. Instead, attention will be focused on dead birds.
However, Prof Hawley said bird flu is not the greatest threat to Wales and the world.
The former major general, who is now the University of Glamorgan’s professor of disaster studies, described the Assembly Government’s decision to narrow the field of monitoring as “quite sensible”."
" THE threat of bird flu crossing over to humans and igniting a pandemic remains real, one of Wales’ leading experts on health and disaster management has claimed.
Alan Hawley, who until recently was the UK’s Director General of Army Medical Services, said climate change and international food scarcity has the potential to spread social and economic chaos across the globe.
His comments follow the decision of the Assembly Government to reduce the surveillance of live wild birds for avian influenza. Instead, attention will be focused on dead birds.
However, Prof Hawley said bird flu is not the greatest threat to Wales and the world.
The former major general, who is now the University of Glamorgan’s professor of disaster studies, described the Assembly Government’s decision to narrow the field of monitoring as “quite sensible”."
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