Tristan : TRISTAN DA CUNHA MEDICAL EMERGENCY DOWNGRADED
Submitted by Tristan Times (Juanita Brock) 04.12.2007 (Article Archived on 15.01.2008)

According to BBC World Service an acute virus has broken out on Tristan da Cunha and that medicines needed to treat it have run out. News direct from the Island has dismissed the urgency for medications.

TRISTAN DA CUNHA MEDICAL EMERGENCY DOWNGRADED

By J. Brock (FINN)

According to BBC World Service an acute virus has broken out on Tristan da Cunha and that medicines needed to treat it have run out.  The report goes on to say that the Island’s resident Doctor has issued an urgent appeal.  However, today's news from Tristan Times Online reporter, Sarah Glass says that the emergency is downgraded.

The British Coast Guard in Falmouth are co-ordinating international efforts to get appropriate medicines to Tristan in order to treat Viral Induced Asthma, as well as other illnesses that cause severe breathing problems. 

Since September visiting ships have brought in a variety of flu-like viruses that have mainly affected the Tristan population that suffers from Asthma. Tristan’s elderly population as well as the very young are most at risk.  For the past two weeks there have been three different viruses affecting the population on Tristan da Cunha.

Ms. Glass reports that there have been recent admissions to the hospital but some of the patients had recovered well enough to go home. She reports three still in hospital.

There is a need for supplies of medicines as the next boat to visit Tristan won't be coming until 24 January 2008 and the recent spate of ship induced viruses have depleted stocks.

Dr. Karl, who left the Island today for Capetown had asked the Island's Radio Officer, Andy Repetto to see if he could get medicines to Tristan da Cunha before January 24th when the new supplies arrive.  South Africa’s Marine Co-ordination Centre was alerted by Cape Town Radio before they informed the Coast Guard at Falmouth.  It seems that somehow an emergency was reported to the BBC.

In normal circumstances getting the medicines to Tristan is not easy as the Island is only accessible by sea.  Any merchant ships in the area are unlikely to have the necessary drugs onboard and, according to the Coast Guard in Falmouth there are no British’ Military vessels near-by at the moment.

 This story is on-going and will be updated whenever necessary.  Watch this space.