04
Aug
Published by MacDoctor on August 4th, 2009
1 Comment »
Stuff reports that Swine flu cases are on the decline. This would be the experience of the large group practice I am currently working in. However, I think that Dr. Fran McGrath is being a little optimistic:
Deputy director of public health Fran McGrath said this might be because people had been taking note of the [...]
03
May
Published by MacDoctor on May 3rd, 2009
1 Comment »
In general, I have had only one problem with the way that the various disease control agencies have reacted to the Swine Flu outbreak. It was all a bit too slow. The WHO, CDC and New Zealand’s Department of Public Health have all reacted appropriately and smoothly but several days and perhaps as much as a [...]
28
Apr
Published by MacDoctor on April 28th, 2009
4 Comments »
An eminent Australian Infectious Diseases expert agrees with me that this outbreak is more worrying than the bird flu.
Two New Zealand experts agree with me that a mutation could render Tamiflu ineffective.
Mexico: 103 dead – 20 confirmed to have died from swine flu, 18 confirmed ill with swine flu
United States: 20 confirmed cases of swine flu
Canada: 6 [...]
28
Apr
Published by MacDoctor on April 28th, 2009
7 Comments »
I saw a patient from flight NZ1 at 4pm today. She was complaining of mild sore throat and runny nose which she thought initially was due to the aircraft air conditioning. She heard the news about the swine flu and so rang Healthline who, like the clueless people they usually are, immediately sent them to [...]
26
Apr
Published by MacDoctor on April 26th, 2009
2 Comments »
Spam Journalism: The spurious use of sensational headlines to add spice to an otherwise pointless article. (MacDoctor definition)
You can always rely on the HoS to provide some spam. This one comes with the thin veneer of medicine attached.
Child pollution fright
Parents face tough choices over their children’s education after health authorities declared large parts of Auckland [...]