Girl dies of swine flu
NICK CLARK
August 01, 2009 02:00am
A YOUNG North-West Coast girl has become the fourth Tasmanian killed by swine flu.
The girl, believed to be 11, died suddenly last week, said public health acting director Chrissie Pickin.
"While initial testing for Influenza A and H1N1 had returned negative results, a tissue sample sent to Melbourne for laboratory testing had revealed the girl was in fact suffering H1N1," Dr Pickin said.
On Tuesday a 38-year-old northern Tasmanian woman with swine flu died from a cardiac arrest. Other victims have been a 77-year-old from the North-West and an 85-year-old from Sandy Bay.
Dr Pickin said some testing being used was not sensitive enough to detect the virus.
The girl's death was revealed yesterday as Premier David Bartlett urged businesses to relax requirements for medical certificates for staff who may have the swine flu.
Mr Bartlett said doctors were being pressed to see patients and issue medical certificates at their busiest time of the year.
He said the State Government had relaxed leave requirements 18 months ago and made it easier for employees to verify their illnesses.
"If an employee is absent due to illness for longer than two days, they are required to provide either a statutory declaration or a medical certificate provided by a GP or other certified medical professional such as a nurse pharmacist verifying their illness," Mr Bartlett said.
Tasmanians have had to wait up to two weeks to get an appointment with a GP.
Mr Bartlett said the aim of the Government verification procedures was twofold.
"It provides the employee with the time to stay at home focusing on recovery rather than chasing a doctor's appointment, and to take the pressure off GPs," he said.
Risdon Prison has been hit with the swine flu with two prisoners testing positive and two other cases under investigation.
The affected prisoners have been quarantined on the fourth floor of the Hobart Reception Prison in Liverpool St.
Another prisoner already in confinement at the reception prison is expected to be quarantined until tomorrow.
Royal Hobart Hospital spokeswoman Pene Snashall said there were six patients with the virus.
"We have good bed availability at the moment and the number of staff off work is about the same as it was last winter," Ms Snashall said.
Education Department figures show the number of absent students jumped from 3000 a day to 5000 a day from primary and secondary schools in the past couple of weeks.
Not all absences were related to swine flu.
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