THE General Hospital is making emergency plans to treat Islanders with severe breathing problems during a feared mass outbreak of swine flu.
The Hospital has bought an extra ten specialist ventilators for the intensive care unit and is now training staff in how to use the equipment.
It comes after the World Health Organisation warned that the number of people in the northern hemisphere falling seriously ill and dying from the disease would rise significantly during the winter.
At least 210 Islanders have been struck down by the virus since it arrived in Jersey in June.
Although all have recovered, the Health Department has recently recorded a sharp increase in cases and is now preparing for a rise in the number of people suffering complications.
Article posted on 9th November, 2009 - 2.59pm
10 Article Comments
Weren’t we told that we are the first to received vaccinations for everybody. And that Jersey is wonderfully prepared already? All bogus info.
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It would appear that Dr Rosemary Geller’s prognostications about the spread of H1N1 “swine” influenza have been justified.
Those who mocked and sneered at her in the past may well have cause to thank her far-sightedness this winter.
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People die every year from flu – increasingly so during the winter. Elderly people, young children, the sick, etc. Nothing is new with swine flu. Stop the stupid pro-pharmaceutical hype.
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no 1, seems like you are one of the few that won’t have the swine flu vaccination. Well the hospital is ready for you if you should catch it!
no 3, yes you are right, people die from flu every year, swine flu is a NEW strain. It is believed that the sick, children and elderly are more at risk, the facts are the people who have died from this virus were fit and healthy people.
One this virus kills someone you know you might think about this a bit differently. And as for “Stop the stupid pro-pharmaceutical hype”, this is no hype, stop the stupid comments and do some research before you comment on something you seem to have no clue about.
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‘PJ – One this virus kills someone you know you might think about this a bit differently’
Mrs Geller predicted 70 deaths and she said that we would be riddled with the virus from September onwards…………..we are still waiting !!!
This is nothing more than paranoia from your Government, wake up people.
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PJ – “swine flu is a NEW strain. It is believed that the sick, children and elderly are more at risk, the facts are the people who have died from this virus were fit and healthy people”
Mistake me if im wrong but have the people who have died not had underlying health issues?
“stop the stupid comments and do some research before you comment on something you seem to have no clue about” – er….ok?!
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Darren, I think we’ve been lucky that it has been contained in the island so far. Please check out the statistics of death rates globally before you comment again, and have a think about how keen you’d be for your loved ones to have to take their chances with the risk.
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I don’t agree with the use of a superficially tested vaccine for the masses, but the truth is: “We just don’t know!”…in which case, rather an over-prepared hospital than an under-prepared one. So let’s have the courage to praise Jersey for once…just once.
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Darren,
Mrs Geller predicted 70 deaths and she said that we would be riddled with the virus from September onwards…………..we are still waiting
2 more children confirmed today, the list will grow. If Dr Geller had under predicted you will still of course complain? This is not paranoia from my Goverment, this is a prediction from health professionals all around the world. I pray that no-one dies from this in Jersey. I just hope your negativity doesn’t add to more lives been lost.
We are so lucy that all children are able to have the opertunity to be given this vaccine and free of charge where this virus is riffe.
How many other countries have been offered this opertunity?
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Mab,
“stop the stupid comments and do some research before you comment on something you seem to have no clue about” – er….ok?, er it very much seems you have no clue. PJ is correct in saying it is a new strain of bird flu, the firsts effects were confirmed in April this year. For this reason and because all viruses can mutate to become more potent , scientists are saying we need to be careful. Last century, the 1968 Flu pandemics killed millions of people across the world. Swine flu is more fatal than that of 1968 as it has mutated and if not treated with the seriousness that’s needed millions will die again. It has spread quickly because it is a new type of flu virus that few, if any, people have full resistance to. There are reports of cases in Argentina where young, healthy adults with no underlying causes have become extremely ill from swine flu and have died. So do your research first, er…ok Google it!
Jean Poole & Born Warrior, I think your comments are fair and to the point, we are damned if we do & damned if we don’t in a few of the comments posted here.
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