Recently there has been confirmed that there are 154 cases who has got the blood confirmative result in Thailand. This news has been affirmed by the Ministry of Public Helath(MOPH). In those cases, it can be separeated into serveral group,students 125 cases, 2 traveller and 27 cases which are being investigated.
It seems I have not updated my blog for a while because there are many things to do including collecting data in the NHS hospital. I try to do my best as PhD student role and also mother role. Anyway I will attempt to update this blog whenever I am available as well.
Author: Michael Stuart Bronze, MD, Professor, Stewart G Wolf Chair in Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center
Swine influenza is a highly contagious respiratory disease in pigs caused by one of several swine influenza A viruses. In addition, influenza C viruses may also cause illness in swine. Current strategies to control swine influenza virus (SIV) in animals typically include one of several commercially available bivalent swine influenza virus vaccines.
Transmission of swine influenza viruses to humans is uncommon. However, the swine influenza virus can be transmitted to humans via contact with infected pigs or environments contaminated with swine influenza viruses. Once a human becomes infected, he or she can then spread the virus to other humans, presumably in the same way as seasonal influenza is spread (ie, via coughing or sneezing).
A Comparison of Stress Factors in Home and Inpatient Hospice Nurses
Mary Lynn Martens, PhD, RN, CHPN
Abstract
Generally considered a philosophy of care rather than a place, hospice is a unique blend of services that addresses the needs of dying persons and those close to them. Frontline workers are critical to the success of hospice, so it follows that the level of stress and general well-being felt by these workers is centrally important. An overly stressed, demoralized, or alienated direct service staff is unlikely to personify hospice caring or deliver high-quality, compassionate care for the terminally ill and their families, which epitomizes the hospice caliber philosophy of care. The purpose of this study was to determine the perceived stress factors of inpatient and home hospice nurses and their correlation to perceived self-efficacy. The top stressors perceived by participating hospice nurses were “making a mistake when treating a patient,” “insufficient personnel to handle workload,” “fellow workers not doing their job,” “inadequate support from supervisor/manager,” “disagreement with a medical professional concerning treatment of patient,” and “personal insult from patients or families.” Statistically significant relationships exist between some of the stressors surveyed in different areas and the stressors’ total and general perceived self-efficacy score. In the statistically significant relationships with perceived self-efficacy, the direction is negative, indicating a high ranking of the stressor or the total correlates to a lower score on perceived self-efficacy. Analysis was also done on the relationship of stress to age, education level, and years of experience in healthcare. This study used the research approach of a quantitative cross-sectional descriptive study using the method of survey research. Nurses working in 14 hospice organizations in Midwest United States were surveyed to learn about perceived sources of stress and perceived self-efficacy. The importance of this study is the identification of perceived occupational stressors among hospice nurses, combined with an understanding of the relationship to perceived self-efficacy. This identification of perceived stress factors in hospice nurses can lead to a better understanding of the needs of hospice nurses as it relates to hiring, education, in-services, and retention of personnel in this unique area of healthcare.
Full Paper http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/703301?src=mp&spon=24&uac=121280EY
Ten new cases of swine flu have been confirmed by health officials in England, taking the total number of UK infections to 65.
The Health Protection Agency says another seven adults and three children have contracted the disease.
The news came as four schools reopened in time for the crucial exams season after being closed when pupils became infected.
Three of them - Alleyn’s School in Dulwich, southeast London, Paignton Community and Sports College in Devon, and Downend School in Gloucestershire - are secondary schools with pupils sitting GCSEs and A-levels.
The Dolphin School, a private prep school in Battersea, southwest London, has also resumed classes.
But another school, the independent Hampton School in southwest London, has announced it is closing for a week from Monday.
One of its first-year pupils has been diagnosed with influenza A. The case has not yet been confirmed as swine flu but further tests are being carried out.
On Sunday, officials said medical experts were investigating 384 suspected cases of swine flu.
A Department of Health spokeswoman said: “So far, all infections in the UK have been mild, and cases have been diagnosed and treated early.
“This reduces the severity of symptoms, and helps to limit the spread.
“But we must not be complacent - it is right to prepare for the possibility of a global pandemic. The UK’s arrangements are continuing to ensure that we are well-placed to deal with this new infection.”
Swine influenza is a highly contagious respiratory disease of pigs caused by one of several swine influenza A viruses. Outbreaks are common in pigs year-round, but infection in humans historically is a result of close contact with infected animals. This current virus is a novel influenza A virus, more properly termed a new subtype of influenza A (H1N1) that was not previously detected in swine or humans. More important is that this new strain appears to be spread by human-to-human transmission.
It is likely that most people, particularly those who do not have regular contact with pigs, do not have any immunity to swine influenza viruses. Thus the concern is that if efficient human-to-human transmission is established, a pandemic is possible.
Government and public health officials are monitoring this situation worldwide to assess the threat from swine flu and to provide guidance to healthcare professionals and the public. Because the situation is changing rapidly, it is important to check regularly for changes in recommendations as new information becomes available.
This article is based on guidance and resources available from both the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO); they have been summarized here with the objective of offering practicing clinicians a one-stop resource for clinical practice concerns related to swine flu.
What Is the Clinical Presentation of Swine Flu?
Persons infected with swine flu may appear similar to those with seasonal influenza, presenting with symptoms of acute respiratory illness. Symptoms include at least 2 of the following:
Rhinorrhea or nasal congestion;
Sore throat;
Cough; and
Fever.
In addition, persons with swine flu may have other typical symptoms of influenza, including body aches, headache, chills, fatigue, and possibly diarrhea and vomiting.
Anyway I will attempt to update this blog whenever I am available as well.
