Battle is on to keep swine flu out of hospitals and prisons

According to the latest update, #55, from the World Health Organisation (WHO), worldwide there have been 70,893 cases including 311 deaths from the influenza A H1N1 (swine flu).

This latest update, issued on the 29th June, has the United States top of the toll with 27,717 cases including 127 deaths, Mexico with 8,279 cases including 116 deaths, Canada with 7,775 including 21 deaths, Chile with 5186 cases including 7 deaths, then Australia with 4,038 cases including 7 deaths.

With over 4,000 Australians now reportedly infected with the H1N1 influenza virus, health officials are focussing on keeping hospitals and nursing homes clear of the virus.

According to Australian health officials to date seven Australians have died from swine flu related causes.

With swine flu spreading into every state and territory and spreading more rapidly in metropolitan areas, attention has now been switched to preventing outbreaks in institutions such as prisons, hospitals and nursing homes.

Victoria has now had more than 1,500 cases, New South Wales more than 850 and there have been over 550 cases in Queensland - health officials say while the focus remains the protection of those who are most vulnerable, such as pregnant women and others with underlying health problems like cardiovascular and heart diseases, children are still highly susceptible.

They say swine flu is occurring predominantly among younger people, particularly young school aged children five to 15 and young adults, and has already appeared in the prison system in New South Wales and Queensland.

At least three inmates are apparently in isolation after testing positive for swine flu and extra measures have been introduced to help stop the spread of the virus using mechanisms to identify prisoners who might have influenza-like illnesses, test them, treat them, isolate them and visitors to jails are being asked to defer visits if they themselves have influenza-like illnesses.

Experts say the risk of outbreaks in institutions like prisons, hospitals, boarding schools and other institutions is high and diseases such as tuberculosis, influenza, and other respiratory viruses,are transmitted very easily in such closed settings.

They say in such situations caution regarding the movement of both inmates and staff must be exercised and vaccination too is important as well as the use of anti-viral drugs.

Though a number of companies are currently working on a H1N1 vaccine, nothing is expected to be available for some time.