Nurses, Patients Hit By Deadly Flu Virus

Hmmm, high flu vaccination rates, deadly flu spreads. What could this possibly mean? - SM

Letter to the editor from Meryl Dorey:

As ususal, the health department comes out with a story on an outbreak of flu without saying whether or not those who were affected were vaccinated. Chances are that they were since almost all health care workers are offered, and in some cases forced, to take the flu vaccine. In addition, all nursing home residents are vaccinated as long as they don't say no. Time and time again, studies show that this vaccine is totally ineffective. In fact, the medical community has gone from saying that it prevents the flu to saying it 'reduces flu-like symptoms'. Quite a change, don't you think? One other question that was not asked but which needs confirmation is whether or not the vaccine that is around this year actually covers this strain of flu virus or not? If not, why push this vaccine so strongly? I would very much like to see a follow-up article that asks and answers these questions. Thank you, Meryl Dorey

Meryl W. Dorey,

President

The Australian Vaccination Network, Inc.

PO Box 177 02 6687 1699 Phone

Bangalow NSW 2479 02 6687 2032 FAX

meryl@avn.org.au http://www.avn.org.au

http://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,4529911%255E910,00.html

NURSES, PATIENTS
HIT BY DEADLY
FLU VIRUS
By COLIN JAMES
18jun02
MORE than 100 patients and staff in an Adelaide nursing home have been struck down by a potentially deadly flu strain, prompting a warning for South Australians to have vaccinations now.

The victims include three elderly people who have been admitted to hospital while the remainder have been isolated in a bid to prevent the disease from spreading. In total, 65 mainly elderly patients and 38 staff – including nurses – have developed the Moscow flu with symptoms such as headaches, fever, runny noses, coughing and muscle aches.

The strain has already claimed the lives of several people in Victoria this year.

Specimens have been sent to the World Health Organisation Influenza Collaborating Centre in Melbourne, which warned yesterday that the flu season could be particularly severe because it had started early.

The Department of Human Services said all people aged over 65 and those suffering from chronic health problems should have flu vaccinations urgently.

Communicable Disease Control Branch director Dr Robert Hall said the influenza epidemic at the aged-care facility was the largest single outbreak his unit had investigated.

He said the outbreak served as a warning to aged-care facilities and the broader community to ensure those vulnerable to the flu were immunised.

"The important thing is that people over the age of 65 and people with chronic medical conditions and people in long-stay medical facilities should have their flu immunisations every year," he said.

Dr Hall would not reveal the identity of the facility to protect the privacy of its patients and staff.

Official investigations were continuing to determine whether patients and staff were adequately immunised.

Dr Hall said the State Government had provided enough free vaccine to cover all South Australians regarded as vulnerable, especially those over 65.

WHO Influenza Collaborating Centre deputy director Alan Sampson said it would help SA authorities to identify the virus at the centre of the outbreak. His centre – one of four in the world – had been notified as part of its international program monitoring influenza strains, particularly the Moscow flu (pictured).

"All of the influenza A viruses we have seen so far this year have been Moscow-type strains," he said.

"Moscow flu is more likely to put people in hospital or to kill them."

Mr Sampson said vaccines could still be effective as the flu season usually peaked between July and September.

"Institutional outbreaks are a fact of life when we have flu in the community," he said.

"Influenza spreads very rapidly in closed environments so these are places where we do tend to see it the most."

Australian Medical Association SA president Dr Joe Levy said SA had one of the highest flu vaccination rates in the country. "Our GPs have been particularly proactive about this," he said.

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