H1N1 in Austin and HCWs ill

[HonestRN]

In what some experts think may be a harbinger of things to come this fall, officials of Dell Children's Medical Center in Austin have set up tents outside the hospital to accommodate the crush of patients flooding the emergency room with symptoms of the pandemic H1N1 virus, according to the Austin American-Statesman. The two tents, which can accommodate eight to 16 beds apiece, were to be air-conditioned today.

According to the article, the hospital was on pace for an all-time record high in patients on Monday with 200 appearing before 3 p.m. That hour usually marks the beginning of the hospital's busy period because it is when school lets out. On Sunday, 343 patients swamped the emergency room. About 10 to 15 of the ER nurses are also out sick with influenza-like illness.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2009/09/swine-flu-things-get-tents-in-austin.html

This article is from Sept 22, 2009, on that day alone they had 200 positive H1N1 cases. I have a friend who works there and he told me today that at least 17 ER nurses (including him) are sick with H1N1 and traveling nurses are now being brought in.

[Circejane]

Hoo, boy.

[oramar]

Totally as we have expected here, not that we are happy about it. My understanding is that the average age in Texas is lower than the national average. The younger the population, the harder you will be hit.

[indigo girl]

http://twitter.com/setonh1n1

Twitter comments from two docs in Austin. They are very, very busy!! They are using those tents to see flu cases.