Island triggers emergency plan
Thursday 30th April 2009, 3:01PM BST.
Chief pharmacist Paul McCabe with Tamiflu pills
FOUR Islanders who are suspected of having swine flu have been quarantined and are being treated in Jersey.
In response to the World Health Organisation’s announcement that they believe a pandemic is imminent, the Island’s health authorities have trigered their ‘preparedness plan’.
Extra hospital beds and stocks of Tamiflu are being prepared and travellers returning from affected areas are being monitored.
Medical Officer of Health Rosemary Geller said this afternoon that daily figures would be issued on cases under investigation.
The four suspected cases so far all involved Islanders who reported suffering from flu-like symptoms and had recently returned from areas where swine flu could have originated.
Tests have been carried out on the people, and their samples have been sent to a specialist London lab. Tests on a fifth person have come back negative.
Read the full story in the Jersey Evening Post. Click here for subscription details. Individual editions are also available online.
Yesterday there was an article about an island couple returning from Mexico. I asked on the ( now removed ) comment thread whether they should have been quarantined for safety reasons.
Now we have four islanders suspected and quarantined – I fear that this measure has been taken too late. This should have been done days ago as soon as they landed from any infected area.
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Have to agree Simon. Quarantine these days isn’t like you see on TV dramas, it’s not living in a bubble in some sterile building, they would simply have to go to their homes and stay there for a few days (hardly traumatic).
In other countries people were being screened upon the flight from an affected area landing and then were being quarantined for a few days in case they caught something on the flight.
I don’t think people should panic, but surely being sensible would be helpful.
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‘uman rights SHJ, ‘uman rights
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I believe anyone coming back from Mexico should be put in quarantine. If anyone, who hasn’t be away, dies from this, what will the family affected have to say about all this?
This could result in many deaths around the world. The experts are talking of a reoccuring flu pandemic for up to 18 months. It will be very interested to see what happens next winter. This will show us if indeed this is on a par with 1957 and 1968, or even 1917!!
With anti-biotics becoming more and more ineffective by the day the next big one will probably wipe out many more people than predicted.
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I’m very worried about this Swine Flu. So much so that I called the Swine Flu hotline earlier, but all I got was crackling!
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Leah panicing is reserved for when the epidemic hits. Then you will see lots of people acting like chickens in a tumble drier. Fingers will then point in the direct of those who should have known better.
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Big Bean
Adrian, please don’t join in any over-reaction, normal and simple hygiene measures will suffice. The media will try and blow this up to get their figures, but we don’t have to join in. If you’re seriously concerned then quarantine yourself from others.
Unforuntunately too many adults don’t bother with normal, simple hygiene measures anymore.
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How safe are influenza vaccines?
A. Very safe. However, there was a bad experience in 1976 when a vaccine was developed against a swine flu outbreak. Some 40 million Americans were injected with the vaccine, which killed 25 and left 500 others with Guillain Barré syndrome, a serious neurological disorder. The vaccine turned out more dangerous than the original flu outbreak, which killed only one person.
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If someone goes to Roseville St Pharmacy to get Tamiflu will they have to make sure the assistant has no religious beliefs about pork?
(YES, I know it’s all very serious, but…)
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I hope this suggestion of swine flu isnt phsycosymatic!!!.I have broken out in a terrible itching. Is there a link between the flu & my itching? Or was it just pork scratchings!
Whatever the conclusion im feeling “sweet” & not sour.
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lol Big Bean always making me smile!
And Adrian as always totally making me want to scream at my computer screen…you are totally believeing all the media hype! for goodness sake get a grip as I understand it:
1) VERY few people have died and all of these people live in countries with very little flu exposure (i.e. mexico!)so they have little to no immunity.
2) Anti biotics have no effect on viruses hense why they are called anti biotics – we will be taking anti-viruls…
3) As long as you wash your hands regularly and start taking anti viruls as soon as you feel unwell with flu symptoms you’ll be fine
4) as the other incidents you have mentioned have NO BEARING on this strain of swine flu please keep your opinions to yourself instead of trying to scare people like the media have been doing.
This flu is not actually swine flu but a mix of ordinary flu, bird flu and swine flu. The reason the media are hyping this up is because it’s the first case of a mutated swine flu that is transmitable between humans but that is due to the part of normal influenza we have all experienced.
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Any fool can panic, but calm rational precautions are what are needed.
Leah (7) is right again.
John (8), you are only contributing to misinformation. There is no Swine Flu vaccine; nor will there a vaccine until the virus is isolated and cultured. A vaccine in 2 to 3 months is a reasonable estimate. In the meantime antiviral drugs will help to moderate and control any infection.
Take care and keep your cool. The medical authorities are remarkably well prepared.
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‘With anti-biotics becoming more and more ineffective by the day the next big one will probably wipe out many more people than predicted.’
Yeah . . . . but aren’t retro-virals used to combat a virus and not antibiotics which are for infections – giving antibiotics for cold or flu is useless so they are not used!
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Ryan Air have announced cut price flights to Mexico City. Now that’s something not to be sneezed at !
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Scaremongering sensational media nonsense. Vastly more people die from regular flu worldwide every year – and in Jersey.
How about seeing some REAL stats on whats going on at the hospital and impact of MSRA….
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I am truly happy to see that the authorities over here are treating the problem and us with respect.
However scaremongery will get us nowhere. The media once again has built this up into something that hopefully it is not…
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Over-reaction by all in my opinion. Get the appropriate drugs as with any virus and you will shake it off in no time. Also have good manners by sneezing etc into a tissue and wash your hands. Simple! Why the big panic?
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sounds like a load of hogswash to me. barry (14)agree maybe its to give us something else to think of instead of the real issues going on in the world. garlic is the best anticeptic to use.
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In the 1970,s we were threatened by “LE RAGE” or Rabies as most of us know it.
Being a kid in the 70,s and seeing all those dogs foaming at the mouth had me scared out of my wits!
Then in the 80,s we were treat to another tv sensation of a gravestone that collapsed with AIDS is a killer written all over it,that put me off chasing ladies for about a fortnight.
The 90,s put you off your burger with mad cow disease!!!
Now we are in an age of “terror” once more with the prospect of either bird flu,swine flu & the prospect of the bee population becoming exctinct.
Is it me? or is Britain obssessed with what might happen but invariably dosent!
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yes sue,i remember all of this,also the egg scare supposed to cause salmonalia and many others.is it a case of crying wolf too often?has the country lost faith in every thing they say?are they telling us porkies (excuse the pun)
what about the thousands of people who have died going into hospital for simple operations with the bugs that can see then off.
they would be better sorting this issue out pronto.
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lula why don’t you like my posts? I am gutted! I was only commenting that should a flu pandemic hit, or infact any pandemic, like the black death, people will be like headless chickens! Threaten anyone with the possibility of death and they normally end up running around like headless chickens. This is human nature I am afraid, maybe it is worse for atheists as they have no future to look forward to?
Another thing people overlook or don’t even think about. What is going on in secret labs around the world? What happens if someone makes a mistake, like what happened at Chernobil, but a virus or other toxic disease was accidently leaked into the atmosphere? Indeed what about a deliberate leak by terrorists or others? What happens then?
Anyone seen the Satan Bug? I enjoyed it, it gave an insight into what could happen. Luckily it was only a film and could never happen in real life, right?…..
bella 20. you are right more people die in hospitals than anywhere else. MRSA doesn’t help either.
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adrian,
this never happened in the hospitals till 4 or 5 years ago.iworked in most of the hospitals for over 20 years and they were not so clean as they are now,and also there were no germs that kill like today.wonder why?germs and bugs are multiplying.is it because we ar,nt giving our immunity a chance to fight against these germs?are we being too fussy?nowadays i,ve noticed many people have asthma and allegies that were not around in the 40,s 50,s or 60,s.
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bella in answer to your comments I believe that germs are now immune to most anti-biotics due to the ineffective and over use of said medicine. This means when they are really needed they will not work. This means more will die from the more basic infections like they used to in the Victorian days.
On top of this as you say kids are not allowed to get dirty now so don’t build up proper immunity in the early years meaning a later life illness could well kill them. They also are not very fit in general and obseity levels are going through the roof. A recipe for a short life me thinks. Nevermind its not my responsibility it is down to the parents.
Too many people are molly coddled these days and live in centrally heated houses and work in air conditioned office blocks. This life style is perfect for getting ill. You will probably find things like legionnaire’s disease will start to increase and kill more people.
As per allegies etc this could be down to being molly coddled, however I think it is also more sinister than that. We are increasingly degrading our environment with toxins etc this can’t be good for health. Also the reliance on plastics and polymers has probably added to the problem with allegies as they are all around you today.
What about chemicals in the air and ground like DDT, from the past, how long does it take for these very toxic chemicals to degrade if ever?
We cannot keep treating our planet as a toxic dustbin there are and will continue to be repercussions. I expect these to become worse and more severe in the coming years. Add on top of this over population and the poisoning or lose of arable land every year and all this is a recipe for disaster. However governments keep telling us things are ok. Who are they kidding?
This capitalistic consumer fueled distruction of the planet has to stop or we will become extinct, what do people prefer? A short term gain or a long term ride into oblivion? Unfortunately most people only live in the here and now, hence oblivion beckons!
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yes your right adrian,i figured the antibiotics years ago.i had a chest infection for a week or 2 doctor put me on course of AB,s it cleared up,great i thought.not so it returned a month later more ab,s from doc,this pattern went on for a year or so,in the end i put up with this infection for 6 months and it went away on its own.i figured out i was,nt giving my own immunity a chance to kick in and do its work.they should only be given out in emergencies and a lot of other medicines. also all these sprays that are used in the home are full of chemicals and i,m sure these have caused a lot of allegies i know one couple whose 2 children have both had asthma from infancy and were on steroid sprays to help them breath,i mentioned the use of sprays caused a lot of breathing problems,and thought no more of it till i bumped into her a year or so later,and she told me she took my advice and her kids are much better and only very rarely have any attacks,whereas before hardly a week went by without 1 or the other being sick
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Big Bean Joke (5) Boar me….I broke out in a rasher and needed some oinkment!
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“….I broke out in a rasher”
These jokes are pathetic enough without their sense being totally lost in the retelling.
Thanks to the wonder of the internet and text messaging on phones we all heard the full list of swine fever jokes way back on day one.
It is now about day seven so perhaps the moderators could knock this drivel on the head as far as this forum is concerned. It is hardly incisive wit, which we would all enjoy.
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Apologies Mr Bougoerd.(26).
Perhaps when the cure is found, they may find your sense of humour with it.
However, I appreciate that my humour is not everyone’s cup of tea, so I’ll now stop hogging this forum with my pathetic jokes.
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Big Bean, Those were better. Subtle puns don’t go amiss and also they are new – at least to me.
I do have a sense of humour. That’s where my name came from!
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Are we all for the chop then?
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Two weeks ago there were no Swine Flu cases in Jersey. One week ago, there were no Swine Flu cases in Jersey. Today, there are no Swine Flu cases in Jersey. Dr Geller said she is closely monitoring this “rapidly changing situation”. Well, thank goodness.
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Mike if the States tackle a major epidemic in the same way they do most things you had better hope there is no outbreak or else many could be in for the chop…
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