|
| The world's northernmost alternative newspaper |
| Local | Diversions | Polar Regions | World | Opinion | Blog | Photos | Video | Audio | Games | Resources |
| Swine flu spreads, medicine arrives as shots run short Many report symptoms within days of first two cases, but none hospitalized so far
An estimated 20 to 30 Longyearbyen residents have been infected with what appear to be H1N1 flu after two local cases of the disease were confirmed last Thursday, officials said. None of the cases have required hospitalization or treatment on the mainland, said Aksel Bilicz, a doctor at Longyearbyen Hospital. Eleven people have sought medical treatment at the hospital as of press time, with an estimated 10 to 20 more calling to report symptoms of the disease, also known as swine flu. "We have not done any tests for swine flu," Bilicz said. "There is an increasing of cases of flu. It is supposed to be swine flu because there is not any other kind of flu right now." People are generally reporting symptoms similar in severity to traditional flu, Bilicz said. "They say they are very sick for a couple of days," he said. An initial shipment of 500 vaccinations has been administered to residents facing the most risk from infection. Another shipment is scheduled to arrive in about two weeks, but Bilicz said "that may be delayed a bit." "They asked me to call back next week," he said. Norwegian Health Minister Anne-Grete Stroem Erichsen announced the flu medicines Tamiflu and Relenza will be available without a doctor's prescription starting this week. Longyearbyen is receiving 1,300 doses of Tamiflu that will be available starting Thursday, said Berit Fossland, owner of Apotek Spitsbergen. Those in high-risk groups, including children and diabetics, should receive priority in getting the medication, Fossland said. The medicine must be taken within 48 hours of first experiencing symptoms to reduce the flu's severity. It can also help people exposed to those with the flu from becoming infected. The pharmacy is also selling surgical masks that help prevent those infected from spreading the disease, although she said so far the only sales have been to companies who are required to have them for contingency plans. Locals infected with the flu should avoid contact with others for seven days, Bilicz said. He said those who must do things like get medicine and essentials when another person is unavailable should wear a surgical mask. "People think a mask should be worn to prevent getting infected, but it is for people who are infected," he said. Ski masks and similar items residents already likely have can be worn, but are not nearly as effective. An estimated 100,000 people in Norway have been infected with H1N1 since it appeared earlier this year, with 15 deaths to date. National health officials said 9.1 percent of people seeking medical treatment last week did so for swine flu, compared to 4.1 percent the previous week. The record for flu treatment is just above 10 percent, which officials expect will be exceeded when the current week's totals are reported next week. "All the parameters are pointing straight up," said Dr. Bjorn Iversen of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health in an interview with Nordlys. "We never expected something like this. It does not appear that the curve will break soon." Southern Norway has been the most affected, with 12.4 percent of patients seeking treatment diagnosed with the ailment, according to the NIPH. Eastern regions reported 10.2 percent, western areas 8.6 percent and central districts 6.2 percent. The total for the three northernmost counties plus Svalbard is 3.6 percent. Svalbard officials have issued warnings for several month about the disease due to the large number of international visitors. An online poll in Svalbardposten shows 28 percent of 526 respondents are worried about swine flu while 72 percent are not as of this week. The first two Svalbard cases were officially diagnosed last Thursday, two days after the initial shipment of vaccinations was administered. "All patients in risk groups that have signed up at the hospital have received the vaccine," the Svalbard governor's office noted in a statement. "In addition, personnel from the hospital, fire department, airport and the governor's office received the vaccine." All Svalbard residents, including those living in the Russian settlement of Barentsburg, will be offered vaccinations when new supplies arrive, the governor's office stated. Those already vaccination are supposed to receive a second shot three weeks later, but Bilicz said they may have to wait due to government regulations. "Before you give anybody a second shot you have to give a first shot to everybody," he said. Contingency plans include bringing medical or other essential personnel from the mainland if a significant number of locals working in those areas are infected, but Bilicz said no such cases have occurred so far. Still, simply planning for the ailment has been taxing for medical and other officials. "I have been almost unable to do anything else," Bilicz said. "What happened was it there was for a very long time uncertainty who had priority (for treatment). It is clear now." More information about the virus and preventative measures is available in Norwegian and English at www.pandemi.no. Information about Tamiflu is available at www.tamiflu.com. |
||
All contents copyright 2009 by Icepeople or other copyright holders. Icepeople material may be reproduced elsewhere free of charge for noncommercial use. Contact Mark Sabbatini at marksabbatini@yahoo.com for information about anything else of seeming importance.
Home | Local | Diversions | Polar Regions | World | Opinion | Blog | Photos | Video | Games | Resources |
