The swine flu has taken a dangerous turn as it continues to sweep across New Zealand.
A 30-year-old woman with the virus is fighting for her lifeAnd health officials on Friday gave up their battle to contain the virus and shifted their focus to managing the spread of the illness.
New Zealand now has 216 cases of the H1N1 virus with a further 643 suspected cases, nearly all in the three largest cities.
She has contracted swine flu and is now listed as critical as a result, the first patient to become gravely ill with the virus in New Zealand.
And in a sign of how seriously health officials in Christchurch are taking the rise in the number of cases, they have opened the country's first community-based assessment centre, or Cbac, in the city centre to treat an expected influx of patients presenting with symptoms.
Volunteer doctors and nurses in the country's first Cbac are taking no chances, wearing masks and gowns, ready for an influx of flu cases.
"These masks carry a much higher degree of safety if someone coughs in your direction or sneezes," says a doctor.
http://tvnz.co.nz/health-news/swine-flu-unstoppable-leaves-woman-critical-2790844
