Week Six

Week Six

Outbreak of virus kills two in Bangor

Two patients at Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor have died due to a fatal new virus.

Reports also state that thirty-two are also suffering symptoms.

Both Tryfan (Gastroenterology) and Cybi (Intensive Care) wards were forced to close due to a suspected outbreak of norovirus.

The virus was identified as a new strand of avian influenza virus, H11N7, which is highly infectious.

Other hospitals in the region, across Wales and over the border to England are under investigation following a confirmation of the outbreak in Glan Clwyd Hospital in Rhyl with over ten cases and one confirmed death.

So far, eight suspected cases in other hospitals in Wales have proven negative, twenty-three currently undergoing further specialist tests.

All hospitals in the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board area have now been closed to visitors.

List of hospitals closed to visitors thus far: o   Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor o    Glan Clwyd Hospital, Rhyl o   Ysbyty Alltwen, Tremadog o   Ysbyty Bryn Beryl, Pwllheli o   Ysbyty Tywyn, o   Ysbyty Eyri, Caernarfon o   Ysbyty Cefni, Llangefni o   Dolgellau & Barmouth Hospital o   Ysbyty Ffestiniog o   Blaenau Ffestiniog o   Ysbyty Penrhos Stanley, Holyhead o   Llandudno General Hospital o   Abergele Hospital o   Colwyn Bay Community Hospital o   Wrexham Maelor Hospital o   Holywell Community Hospital o   Mold Community Hospital o   Chirk Community Hospital o   Deeside Community Hospital o   Penley Community Hospital

 

Chief Executive of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Ruth Gibbons, is advising the public with symptoms to stay in their homes for 48 hours until a doctor can see them.

She says “most patients will not be affected, and until we can definitely say otherwise they will be quarantined, we do not want to take any further risks.”

The Welsh Government has confirmed that it will be some time before scientists can develop a vaccine.

Director-General Dr Morag Chant, of the World Health Organisation, convened a meeting of the
Emergency Committee this afternoon to assess the situation.

The Committee agreed that the situation in the UK constitutes a public health emergency of international concern.

However, the Committee also advised that there were several gaps in knowledge about clinical features, epidemiology and virology of cases, and that answers to several specific questions were needed.

The outbreak of the virus has sparked a political debate between Conservative and Labour candidates in Wales.

Andrew H. Crabbs, leader of the Welsh Conservative Party, says “This outbreak is especially concerning at a time when the Welsh NHS is already stretched beyond its limit; and comes as a result of overworked nurses and doctors and under-staffed wards”

The Labour Party lashed out at Crabbs. Prime Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones says “I condemn the Conservative Leader’s comments about the Welsh NHS. It is outrageous that they would seek to make political capital out of this serious matter in the run up to the General Election.”

Public Health Wales have released this information for the general public on influenza Flu: Public health advice and messages o   Anyone can get flu and the flu virus is easily passed from person to person.  Flu can spread rapidly especially in closed communities such as residential homes. o   For people who are generally fit and healthy, flu is a self-limiting illness and symptoms can be treated at home using remedies commonly available from pharmacies. o   However complications can occur particularly in the elderly or in those with certain medical conditions. These can result in serious illness and can be life-threatening. o   GPs may prescribe antiviral medications such as Zanamivir and Oseltamivir to such patients for both the treatment and prevention of flu. o   The most effective method of controlling influenza is by maintaining high levels of immunisation among vulnerable groups or whole populations.  o   As influenza circulates each year in the UK during the winter months (October to April), it is often called seasonal flu and results from slight changes to the virus from the previous year. o   This that some people who encounter the new virus may no longer be fully immune, and may require aanother vaccination. o   Public Health Wales supports the Welsh Assembly Government in setting a strategic direction for immunisation services, support local health boards in managing local services and achieving targets, and support General Practice and Trusts delivering services.   The Welsh Government has proposed, in the event of the virus spreading rapidly, the UK uses their annual stockpile for the treatment of patients rather than the general population The available scientific evidence does not support the general wearing of face masks by those who are not ill while going about their daily lives. Surgical and Medical staff, however, will be required to wear face masks, which are in the process of being stockpiled. More information on the outbreak and resulting responses can be found on the NHS Wales website.

Plane Crash on Anglesey

At approximately 4:15pm today, a Citywing flight carrying 15 passengers has crashed on the runway in in RAF Valley, Anglesey.

The plane, on route from Anglesey to Cardiff, was forced to turn back due to illness of the pilot.

The plane was twenty minutes into its hour-long journey.

Eyewitnesses to the scene described grey smoke billowing from the grounded plane, which was lying on the runway with snapped wings and a severed tail.

North Wales police are working with the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) to establish the cause of the crash.

So far there have been reported no fatalities.

Marlow Briggs, 43, from Holyhead was an eyewitness to the initial crash.

“The nose of the plane was up in the air, as if it was coming in to land vertically”, he says, “the back tail hit the ground, it tumbled to the side and crashed along the runway”

Briggs also says “the plane then caught fire immediately”.

There has been no further statement from the AAIB, who are leading the investigation, nor from the North Wales Police at this time.