The wonderful Peter Yang
Swine flu death 'shows gap in health standards'
June 22nd 2009 03:27
(This article is copyed from abc.net.au Really Long Link )
Health workers say the death of an Aboriginal man with swine flu magnifies the huge gap in health standards between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
Officials have confirmed the 26-year-old man from the remote Kurrikurra community in Western Australia is Australia's first swine flu victim.
Authorities will fly to the remote area next week to deliver anti-viral medication to the community.
Dr Brad Murphy, who heads the national standing committee on Aboriginal health for the Royal Australian College of GP, says the death highlights the importance of closing the gap between Indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.
"It's sad that there's no accident that the first death in Australia is from a target group of people who are known to be 17 years behind mainstream Australia," he said.
"So here we have got a 26-year-old man who is three times more likely to have cardiovascular disease, renal disease; a whole range of things.
South Australia's chief medical officer Paddy Phillips says the 26-year-old was already a sick man.
"I'd be amazed if the subsequent conclusion was that swine flu was the cause," he said.
"This man had a number ... I really do emphasis that he had a number of serious medical conditions."
It is understood the victim was suffering pneumonia and was flown 700 kilometres from his community to Alice Springs Hospital, then later transferred to the Royal Adelaide hospital.
He tested positive to swine flu on Thursday, though it is still unclear exactly where and when he contracted the virus.
The swine flu victim comes from the Kurrikurra community, which is represented by the Ngaanyatjarra Council.
Coordinator of the council, Gerard Coffey, says the death is tragic.
"A community of 150 to 200 people losing a community member is obviously tragic, no matter what the cause of it is," he said.
Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon says with Australia now in protect phase, swine flu health efforts are focusing on protecting those most vulnerable.
Health workers say the death of an Aboriginal man with swine flu magnifies the huge gap in health standards between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
Officials have confirmed the 26-year-old man from the remote Kurrikurra community in Western Australia is Australia's first swine flu victim.
Authorities will fly to the remote area next week to deliver anti-viral medication to the community.
Dr Brad Murphy, who heads the national standing committee on Aboriginal health for the Royal Australian College of GP, says the death highlights the importance of closing the gap between Indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.
"It's sad that there's no accident that the first death in Australia is from a target group of people who are known to be 17 years behind mainstream Australia," he said.
"So here we have got a 26-year-old man who is three times more likely to have cardiovascular disease, renal disease; a whole range of things.
South Australia's chief medical officer Paddy Phillips says the 26-year-old was already a sick man.
"I'd be amazed if the subsequent conclusion was that swine flu was the cause," he said.
"This man had a number ... I really do emphasis that he had a number of serious medical conditions."
It is understood the victim was suffering pneumonia and was flown 700 kilometres from his community to Alice Springs Hospital, then later transferred to the Royal Adelaide hospital.
He tested positive to swine flu on Thursday, though it is still unclear exactly where and when he contracted the virus.
The swine flu victim comes from the Kurrikurra community, which is represented by the Ngaanyatjarra Council.
Coordinator of the council, Gerard Coffey, says the death is tragic.
"A community of 150 to 200 people losing a community member is obviously tragic, no matter what the cause of it is," he said.
Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon says with Australia now in protect phase, swine flu health efforts are focusing on protecting those most vulnerable.
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