By Helen Peterson

The abrupt onset of influenza-type symptoms was a strong indicator to Kaiti Medical Centre GP Tom James that a local elderly woman possibly had swine flu. 

Tom made the diagnosis and as a result the woman became the first person in the district to be diagnosed with the virus. 

Tom is the only local general practitioner involved in New Zealand’s Influenza Surveillance Programme. Where he suspects an influenza of some kind he sends samples away to ESR and receives results personal to his patients within two or three weeks. This result came back a lot sooner!
 
“One of my reasons for participating in the Influenza Surveillance Programme is to increase my skills in identifying the subtle differences between flu and colds.”

Tom said the patient met his criteria for flu surveillance even though she didn’t appear to meet all the criteria for swine flu. The 70-year-old woman arrived at the centre displaying a high fever and suffering chills. 

“The person was in a duffle coat with a hat on feeling very shivery and unwell. I was thinking it is definitely flu proper, rather than a cold.”

During the patient’s initial visit Tom prescribed an antibiotic to cover a secondary infection and also ibuprofen to deal with muscle aches and high fever. 

To make a proper assessment of a patient Tom says doctors need to be within the close confines of a person, so it is impractical to adopt a one-metre-away policy. “I use a hand sanitizer before and after seeing patients and to date I have had no cold or flu-like symptoms.”  

Tom says before the woman was diagnosed the district had adopted a containment policy. After confirmation of the woman’s virus this was changed to management policy, particularly as the country as a whole was experiencing a community outbreak.  

In past years the Gisborne- East Coast area has been exposed to several different flu viruses including the Florida, Brisbane and Malaysian strains.

“All of these strains are covered by this year’s flu vaccination but swine flu is not included,” says Tom.

Tairawhiti District Health Chief Medical Advisor Bruce Duncan said participation in the surveillance programme is extremely important at a community level.  “We can gain an idea of what levels of influenza there is in the community, as well as identifying which strains are circulating.  We are grateful to Tom and KMC for participating this year,” he said.

Tom’s patient has since made a full recovery.

Tama tu, tama ora tama noho, tama mate!
The person who is active will live long and live well, but the person who sits still will not!

An eight week challenge to exercise and eat well has been handed to Turanga Health rural clients in an effort to stimulate and motivate healthy living.

Turanga Health Whanau Hauora (family health) staff are still securing registrations for the Eight Week Challenge that begins this week and involves people from Matawai, Te Karaka, Whatatutu, Muriwai, Manutuke, Patutahi and Waihirere.
 
Just 30 minutes or more of moderate physical activity on most days will improve the health of our whanau, says Whanau Hauora kaiawhina Carren Smith.
 
“Even small amounts of activity, maybe 10-15 minutes three times a day, will be beneficial in lowering blood pressure, losing weight, building confidence and self esteem.”

Whanau Hauora kaiawhina Carren and Dallas Poi along with nurses Kaye Stewart and Bernie Biddle will offer those who have signed up to the challenge educational sessions on nutrition, and exercise options that are fun. Tai chi, line dancing, and even belly dancing will be available.

The best way to get active and stay motivated is to find something you enjoy and exercise in a group, says Dallas.

Client’s will have their weight, blood glucose and blood pressure recorded three times during the challenge to measure their, and the programme’s success.