10 % of Swine Flu Fatalities in Argentina Are HCW?

indigo girl · Jul 19, 2009

Costa Rica

http://insidecostarica.com/dailynews/2009/july/19/cr03.htm

They work with kids. No wonder they got sick...

The Hospital Nacional de Niños (Children's Hospital) reports that five of its resident doctors are out sick with the AH1N1 flu virus. A sixth medical resident has now recovered after being infected.
The incapacitation was confirmed by the ministra de Salud, María Luisa Ávila.
The ministra said that samples are now being tested at the laboratory and it will be several days before the results are in, meanwhile the doctors are staying home to avoid risk spreading infection.
The AH1N1 has so far claimed 11 lives in Costa Rica, the worst week being this past week when on average one person a day died from the virus.

oramar · Jul 20, 2009

Costa Rica
http://insidecostarica.com/dailynews/2009/july/19/cr03.htm
They work with kids. No wonder they got sick...

Will keep an eye on this situation, bears watching.

oramar · Jul 20, 2009

Very shortly we will see the real time answer to the question, "will you work during a pandemic?"

indigo girl · Jul 22, 2009

http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showpost.php?p=268665&postcount=12

Not a great translation, but I think that we can understand enough to be concerned about what they seem to be saying.

More than 10 percent of health workers of the Federal Capital and the province were infected with influenza A in health centers and at least a dozen died from respiratory illness.
Associations of doctors and health workers say that another consequence of the spread of swine influenza and absenteeism is that the largest number of infections was observed among nurses because of their high exposure. Reported also that the effects of the pandemic in the sector could have been mitigated if government had not taken steps to address the emergency.
Before the elections on June 28, health professionals warned that they were not guaranteed the minimum security standards to prevent the spread of H1N1 virus among patients and employees of the health centers.
Chinstrap complaints of poor quality and lack of staff in the nursing sector there is a shortfall of 45 thousand players at a national level continues at the various health services.
Jose Jerez, president of the Association of Nursing of the Federal Capital and Head of the Department of Nursing at the Favaloro Foundation, estimates that more than 10 percent of the health district was infected with the H1N1 virus.
"These figures speak for all staff, but nurses are increasing rates because they are more exposed, as the 24 hours with patients. For every 7 physicians are infected 20 nurses in the same situation, "said Sherry, in dialogue with this half.
It regrets, however, "the unreliability of official statistics. But surveys of the various associations and the information circulating on the forums come to these figures, "while noting that there are" three fatal cases of nurses who contracted the influenza A and one quarter under review. "
In Jerez, the workers who died after contracting the influence swine, as the nurse Mary Ferrer Hospital in the city, had an associated disease. "It is complicated and a few cases Garrahan Hospital nurse who was very serious, fortunately was able to recover," he says.
Proud of the work being carried out nurses, Sherry notes that "have done a wonderful job, you have the body of the high demand of patients. Authorities say there is to motivate students to display more nurses but we still see 'trash contracts' in the State. And we should not be surprised by the magnitude of the emergency and the health system presents problems for 40 years and therefore make every appearance, as with dengue fever. "
Workers Posadas Hospital, one of the hardest hit to the containment of the emergency, reported that "at least 100 nurses contracted the H1N1 virus and 50 cases complications such as respiratory failure and pneumonia" after infected in the hospital for Haedo town.
Late reaction
For his part, Hugo Amor, chairman of the CICOP (the union of health professionals in the province), admits that 10 per cent of health personnel from 77 public hospitals of Buenos Aires became ill of influenza A. "It is true that more professional nurses, doctors, biochemists, or licensed nursing kinesiologists-infected. But the situation was exacerbated because there was a belated reaction of the government to combat the pandemic, "said the leader.
In this connection, he recalled that "many workers are not sick because they had taken security measures such as isolation rooms for patients, and had not been disseminated to the public campaigns. This contagion was more. "
So far has not reported any professional "died of influenza A in public hospitals. The doctor who died of influenza A in Mar del Plata worked at a clinic in the area of Batan. Instead we have heard of other fatal cases in health workers from the hospital
Even the staff of the National Institute Malbrán where influenza A was diagnosed in thousands of samples to arrive from across the country, did not escape the epidemic. Flavio Vergara, delegate of the Association of State Workers (ATE) at the institution, confirmed that at least two workers entered the wrong setting.
"There were two cases of infection, a technician and a professional biochemist who became ill. But we do not know whether the contagion was at work or outside. Were discharged at 15 days and were given an antiviral medication.