Hospitals gear up for flu epidemic
Swine flu cases expected to soar
By Tom Cain
WITH THE autumn fast approaching and the authorities warning of a surge in the number of swine flu cases, hospitals on the Costa Blanca are setting up isolation wards and getting ready for a mass arrival of patients.
Elche Hospital, for example has begun the construction of a special isolation ward that will be able to house up to 27 patients.
The move follows a recent directive from the Valencia health authorities giving hospitals and medical centres the freedom to establish their own emergency protocols in the event of an epidemic.
Each facility can determine how many doctors and nursing staff it can use and how many beds it can reserve and the size of the isolation area it establishes.
To that end Elche Hospital has decided to turn the outside area of its emergency department into a purpose- built isolation. Work on the project has already begun and will be completed next month.
Hospital is also setting aside areas that will deal solely with children suspected of having the virus.
As each medical facility puts its protocols into action the health authority continues to keep its 24-hour hotline open and the World Health Organisation has raised its pandemic alert to level 6.2.
The health ministry has mounted an information campaign at all Spanish airports, bus stations and train stations.
At Alicante airport posters have been put up in Spanish and English giving advice to travellers going to or returning from areas affected by the H1N1 virus.
Article published in 'Costa News'
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