Swine flu winter: 200 fight for life as number of patients doubles in a week

According to reports in today’s newspapers, nearly two hundred swine flu victims were fighting for their lives last night. The number of patients in intensive care has doubled in a week and many of them are either elderly or pregnant. Fourteen have so far died. Seventeen of the 190 are being kept alive by highly-specialised heart and lung machines – three times the usual number.

It is feared that the swine flu strain may have grown more virulent over the past 12 months with victims quickly becoming dangerously ill. Intensive care units are warned to look out for the illness in new admissions, with medics urged to use antiviral medicines if they have the least suspicion a patient has it. Hospital managers have been holding emergency meetings to draw up plans to tackle a further onslaught of cases. It is thought the cold weather could cause a surge of admissions, putting intensive care units under massive strain. Analysis by SDI Healthcare, which models flu rates based on reports from GPs and chemists, suggests infection rates are at a five-year high.

It estimates that nine million Britons have been struck down – nearly one in six of the population. Twice the level seen this time last year, the infection rate is 36 per cent above normal, making it the worst flu outbreak in five years.

Three strains of influenza are in circulation: H1N1 or swine flu, flu B and H2N3. Swine flu is proving the most deadly and has claimed 14 of this winter’s 17 victims.

Pregnant women, the obese and asthmatics are at greater risk, with the virus far more common in those under the age of 65. GPs blame the surge in cases in part on low vaccination rates, particularly among younger age groups.

For further information on who is at risk this winter with the H1N1 virus (Swine Flu) please visit http://www.medical-specialists.co.uk/news/2010/11/19/who-is-at-risk-from-flu-this-winter/

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Pregnant woman in swine flu coma

 

According to reports in The Sun news paper, Pregnant Fallon Devaney, 25, is in a coma after being rushed to hospital suffering with swine flu, she is also now fighting pneumonia, but the staffs believe the baby, due in April, may be sapping her strength. The parents of Fallon Devaney fear they will have to choose who can be saved - the mother or her unborn baby.

Fallon was taken from home in Kirk Hallam, Derbys, to the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham on Tuesday. She had not received the seasonal flu jab, which also guards against swine flu (H1N1 Virus).

Fallons mum Linda said: "All pregnant women should be given the vaccine. If Fallon had it she would not now be lying in a hospital bed almost dead.

Dr Stephen Fowlie, Medical Director at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "We encourage all people in at-risk groups to have the seasonal flu vaccine, including pregnant women. They should contact their GP for more advice."

And the Government's Chief Medical Officer, Prof Dame Sally Davies, said: "It is particularly important for pregnant women, no matter what stage they have reached, to get their free flu vaccine as soon as possible."

Meanwhile it emerged that parts of the North were suffering a shortage of swine flu anti-viral drug Tamiflu because of distribution problems.

NHS chiefs said the problem was temporary.

If you or your family have not had your seasonal flu jab or have not taken precautions this year by taking Tamiflu, please visit our website at

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Tamiflu protected against pneumonia in swine flu patients: researchers

Swine flu patients were protected from developing pneumonia by taking Tamiflu during the pandemic, Chinese research has found.

A study of 1,200 people admitted to hospital with swine flu found those who were treated with Tamiflu were around 80 per cent less likely to develop pneumonia.

It means that four people needed to be treated with the drug to prevent one case of pneumonia, the study published online in the British Medical Journal found.

Some critics have said the response to the 2009 H1N1 pandemic was excessive and that Tamiflu was ineffective.

The study, conducted by a team at the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, also found that starting the course of Tamiflu, also known as oseltamivir within two days of symptoms reduced the length time patients were feverish and lessened the amount of virus they shed, so making them less infective to others.

Source http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/swine-flu/8029951/Tamiflu-protected-against-pneumonia-in-swine-flu-patients-researchers.html

New killer swine flu virus could be on its way

An even more deadly version of Swine flu could be on its way this Christmas experts have warned yesterday.

Scientists fear the H1N1 virus may come back this winter in a “dangerous” and more potent form. And that could send the death toll soaring for the bug, which has killed more than 60 people in Scotland and around 18,000 worldwide.

Swine Flu medication

Leading bacteriologist Prof Hugh Pennington said that every global flu epidemic has returned in a deadlier form.

He said: “History shows that subsequent waves have been nastier and killed more people.

“In 1918-19, when 50million died of H1N1, the second wave was much more serious than the first.

“It is reasonable to expect swine flu to return this winter.”

The Aberdeen-based boffin added: “One possibility is we might get another virus which is a more lethal mutation.”

Next week the NHS will appeal to thousands of vulnerable Scots to get vaccinated against swine flu.

A spokesman said: “It’s expected that H1N1 will be the main flu virus circulating this winter. Most people will recover naturally within a week.

“But those with health conditions, including heart and lung problems, are at an increased risk of experiencing serious complications.

“These people, including children, are encouraged to receive vaccination from October 4.”

Last night Scottish Labour’s public health spokesman Dr Richard Simpson said: “It would not be surprising to see a return of swine flu.

“It’s very important that people in target groups get vaccinated.”