Flu had Toronto ERs beyond capacity. Another outbreak?

[ebonyqueen]

Here we go again :neutral:.

http://www.torontosun.com/news/torontoandgta/2011/01/11/16850866.html

Toronto hospitals are struggling with an overwhelming surge of flu cases that stretched resources in some emergency rooms beyond capacity. Dr. James Downey, infection control officer for Toronto East General Hospital, said the ER is seeing extraordinary numbers of people with respiratory illnesses.

“Based on our five year average, the number of patients that come in with chest symptoms are about double what we usually have seen in other years so it’s very high,” Downey said Tuesday. “Resources are a problem. We’ve had more patients on ventilators...the nursing staff are stretched because they have to do extra shifts...space is a problem, even in the emergency we’ve had to open up a unit that’s been closed for some time.”

Seniors, who often have other pre-existing health conditions, are showing up at the hospital in larger numbers with more severe flu symptoms, he said.
Dr. Anil Chopra, Medical Director of Emergency Medicine at University Health Network, said Toronto General and its neighbouring hospitals are seeing the same kind of pressure.

Indeed, the ER experienced its busiest holiday season in at least a decade, he said.
“We’re seeing vastly increased numbers of patients presenting to the emergency department. We’re seeing very high volumes of influenza-like illness,” Chopra said. “We’re seeing staff nurses calling in sick from the flu; we’re seeing physicians calling in sick with the flu.

“We are getting gridlocked in the emergency department because a lot of these patients require isolation rooms,” he said.

 

[Double Bubble]

this time of year it could be flu

 

[Uh-Oh!]

Not sure Papa....'are up 34% over this time last year'.

 

[undercoverbabe911]

I can understand seniors or small children needing to go to the doctor but anyone over 12 or under 70 just stay the fuck home and follow the normal procedures for dealing with a cold or flu.

You don't need to go see a doctor to tell you: drink plenty of fluids, plenty of bed rest, take tylenol for the feaver.....jesus.....