Swine flu: one in five at risk

Updated October 31 2012 - 2:33pm, first published May 27 2009 - 12:08am

Victorians have been warned that one in five people could catch swine flu as another eight Melburnians were diagnosed overnight.The state's acting Chief Medical Officer, Rosemary Lester, said up to 20 per cent of the population could come down with the highly contagious illness as Victoria's tally rose to 32.The latest cases include six teenagers aged between 14 and 19, a 50-year-old woman and a 38-year-old woman. Two of the teenagers come from the eastern suburbs of Canterbury and Burnley.At a media briefing this morning, officials refused to say which schools the latest teenage sufferers attend but said no more school closures would occur.Health Minister Daniel Andrews said two people were hospitalised yesterday with swine flu, including a pregnant woman, but overall sufferers had experienced only mild symptoms.Special clinics to help cope with the increasing number of swine flu cases will be set up in the Royal Children's Hospital, the Austin Hospital in Heidelberg, and hospitals in the western and northern suburbs.Premier John Brumby said the clinics would allow swine flu patients to be isolated from general waiting rooms."Concerned families have been heeding the advice of the government and health authorities that they should see a doctor if they are concerned about flu-like illness and this has led to a significant increase in visits to hospital emergency departments," Mr Brumby said."Our advice is still for parents to take their children if they develop symptoms to their local doctor who will then refer them to the (special) clinics if necessary."Nurses will also have the power to administer Tamiflu and antiviral drugs to ease the burden on doctors and emergency departments.Mr Brumby admitted it was impossible to stop the virus but said quarantine measures had been effective in limiting its spread.He said there were queues at medical clinics and doctors were working long hours as the swine flu tally soared in Victoria.

Subscribe now for unlimited access.

$0/

(min cost $0)

or signup to continue reading

See subscription options

Get the latest Launceston news in your inbox

Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date.

We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy.