Swine flu victim remains critically ill

Oct 21 2009 by Julie Watt, Dumfries Standard Wednesday

A MAN is still fighting for his life in hospital after contracting deadly swine flu.

The 27-year-old, who is believed to have had no prior underlying health problems, has been on a ventilator in a high dependency unit at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary for more than a week.

The man, whose name has not been released, is reported to be in a “critical” condition.

He is one of three people within the region requiring hospital treatment due to the effects of the virus, bringing the total to 11 since the pandemic began.

A spokeswoman for NHS Dumfries and Galloway said: “Two patients are currently being treated at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary with H1N1. One of whom is in our high-dependency unit. One patient has been admitted to Gartnaval Hospital in Glasgow.”

The health board is urging residents to get vaccinated against the virus after the number of people within Dumfries and Galloway reported symptoms of swine flu has almost tripled in the past four weeks.

Government surveillance figures show the rate of GP consultations for flu-like illnesses, including swine flu, across the region rose to from 62 to 72 per 100,000 this week.

The spokeswoman said: “We can confirm that there continues to be a steady number of people across Dumfries and Galloway consulting their GP with flu-like symptoms. H1N1 continues to be a relatively mild virus for most people affected. However, NHS Dumfries and Galloway is not complacent and is continuing to monitor and review plans regularly.”

And while the first batch of the Pandemrix swine flu vaccine is due to arrive within the region in the next few days as part of a UK programme to vaccinate almost 13 million people, stocks will initially be limited.

Clinical at-risk groups will be the first to receive the vaccine, along with healthcare professionals. The programme begins in earnest through all GP practices from the start of November.

Invitations will be issued by GP surgeries.