Christian Peregin
DJ had no other condition
Health Division statement contradicts DOI announcement
Justin Chircop, the fourth person to die of swine flu in Malta, was healthy before contracting the virus, contrary to what was previously thought.
This means Mr Chircop was the first Maltese swine flu fatality not to have been in the "vulnerable group" because the other three all had underlying conditions that could aggravate the illness.
The health authorities yesterday issued a statement seemingly contradicting the one circulated by the Department of Information on Monday that had said a 32-year-old man died of "complications from the A H1N1 virus".
The DOI had added that the victim suffered from a condition that could exacerbate chest infections.
But yesterday, an autopsy proved that Mr Chircop, a popular radio deejay, had no other illnesses and had succumbed to a severe attack of swine flu.
Healthcare director general Ray Busuttil said this was "no mix-up" but simply that the initial working diagnosis was proven not to be the case through a post-mortem examination.
"This does not mean the virus has become more dangerous. We have known all along that swine flu death can occur both in individuals with underlying medical conditions and those who were previously healthy."
Internationally, between 20 and 50 per cent of swine flu victims were perfectly healthy before they died. He said Malta was no different to any country but this simply proved that swine flu was "no silly flu problem".
"It is a mild illness to be taken seriously," Dr Busuttil said.
Because of patient-confidentiality he did not explain what led the authorities to initially believe the victim had another condition.
More tests are being carried out.
18 Comments
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S Ferrito
Jan 3rd 2010, 15:11
I agree with Yaz Tabone! I am a parent of a child under 5 and I will not give my consent to vaccinate my son. Of course neither I will take it. I have the right to say NO!
For me NVIC in the USA http://www.nvic.org/ were such an eye opener .
The National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC) is a national, non-profit educational organization founded in 1982. The oldest and largest consumer organization advocating the institution of vaccine safety and informed consent protections in the mass vaccination system, NVIC is responsible for launching the vaccine safety and informed consent movement in America in the early 1980's.
ARONNE CAMILLERI
Jan 3rd 2010, 13:20
I would not like to go into this issue, but more importantly I would recommend to seek more independant information about this pandemic flu. The more a person is informed, the better prepared he/she is.
Anyone who wishes to get more real information about all the issues involved may log on to this this link, which is available from the World Health Organisation website:
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/frequently_asked_questions/en/
Ray Buttigieg
Jan 2nd 2010, 17:43
After reading this story it is evident that everybody is valnerable to swine flu. Very Scarey. God help us
Joseph Zammit
Jan 2nd 2010, 16:18
Contradiction???
That's sounding more and more familiar in govermental institutions... What a nice coincidence. The first Maltese that diead directly because AH5N1 virus was exactly on th day the vaccines arrived to Malta!!!!
My god how patetic, give us a break!!!
yaz tabone
Jan 2nd 2010, 15:32
i will definately not be takin the vaccine and nor would my son. my son is still a baby and diabetic, the last thing he needs is more drugs in his body. i think people should do the research before rushin to get vaccinated!
people have died after bein vaccinated. it has been reported by european countries such as hungary and sweden. look up Guillain-Barre syndrome or Gulf War Syndrome - they are suspected to be tied with the vaccine.
-(UK) how come 50% of docs n 2/3 of 1500 nurses refuse to be vaccinated?
-what bout the excess mercury?
-ever heard of world population control?
in the 70s (swine flu) more people died of Guillain-Barré Syndrome which they developed as a result of the vaccine, than died from the disease itself!
JCMIcallef
Jan 2nd 2010, 15:24
It's sad that a nice chap like this died so early, and I'd would not want to get into the personal stuff. However, if this will help to educate the people then, perhaps, the authorities could give some indication of what might have gone wrong for a healthy 32-year old to die from this flu.
Perhaps next time, the person's identity should be kept secret, and instead focus is made on what led to the fatality - did he travel when ill? Did not take medication in time?
Whilst it may be understood that the authorities dont want to create any panic, prevention or timely action would be solicited.
At this point it is most important that we minimise the serious impact of this illness.
People like Justin would not have died in vain, at least.
Marc Alan Spiteri
Jan 2nd 2010, 13:39
First they said he suffered from other conditions, issa it was Swine flu only that killed him...
A well-thought tactic to make people take the vaccine.
Joseph Agius
Jan 2nd 2010, 10:18
To add with this, I want to ask who is considered in the so called 'vulnerable group' ? Cause if asmathics are considered vulnerable too, 1/2 of the Maltese population are vulnerable.
F.Galea
Jan 2nd 2010, 09:38
@ C.Scerri
I believe it is here; http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100101/local/healthcare-workers-take-swine-flu-vaccine
that C.Camilleri, as did I, saw the infomation about the general public being vaccinated in March.
C.Scerri @ C.camilleri
Jan 1st 2010, 19:39
According to this piece of news(http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4658827,00.html) Germany shall only cover 40% of the population. Also can you please indicate where have you read that the population shall be vaccinated in March? The last news that I have is that all shall be vaccinated by the first quarter. In your attempt in putting the Maltese Authorities in bad light, you had no arguments against mine when I stated that production is slow and that the pharma industries are primarily a profit making industry and thus go by market rules!
Ludwig Flask
Jan 1st 2010, 11:45
This proves me right to the numerous comments I have forwarded on this issue and to the several censorship on my comments I had to give in. Hopefully those whom are in charge of this issue will have something to think and meditate on, and take the necessary measures in doing this thing right! RIP JC
CFarrugia
Jan 1st 2010, 11:15
CScerri
in Germany EVERYONE WHO WANTED to could have taken the vaccine IN NOVEMBER , I also was offered to take it though completely healthy. Some people who did not want were however not forced, but anyone who wanted it could take it.
CFarrugia
Jan 1st 2010, 11:10
@C.Scerri
the Maltese population in general (with no chronic illnesses) will be vaccinated in March only, I don't know but I really think that is a bit late, winter is over by that time and probably many people would have caught it by then anyway....
your argument of saying others have tested it for us is a bit funny, so you are saying the rest of the European population were used as guinea pigs or what??
Corinne Vella
Jan 1st 2010, 10:59
CFarrugia: "in EU countries, everyone has already been vaccinated in November"
That is untrue.In the UK, for instance, the vaccination programme prioritised health care workers and those in vulnerable groups.
C.Scerri @ CFarrugia
Jan 1st 2010, 10:42
First - production of the vaccine is not a chemical process but actually biotech process - thus there is a limit to scaling up i.e. it takes time to produce it
Second - Pharmaceutical companies utilise something called "the market rules"! They would rather sell 20 million doses rather than 50000!! So Malta shall always suffer!
Thirdly - there was widespread controversy both on a type of vaccine out for sale in Germany (allegedly not tested well enough) as well as behind the fact that whilst the Govt both a type of vaccine for the population, it had bought a second type for the military and govt officials
On the positive side - whilst in Germany and other countries, govt bought vaccines for 25-30% of the population, Malta has bought enough for all. A second positive aspect, is that we are assured that the vaccine that we have is safe as others have already tested it for us!!
James Buhagiar
Jan 1st 2010, 10:34
I must admit that this raises concerns..and is a harch reminder to take the flu seriously.
I dont think that the heath auth. are misleading the public. Its clear that they were wrong and admitted it yesterday. So what ?
I mean these things happen continously in the medical field. You go to 5 docs and all have different versions and names of the same condition.
At least the health authorities had the courage to admit there was a change in their results.
Apart from all this the same authoritues have been telling us to take this seriously and asking us to be vigilant for months now....I think its our reponsability not to spread the virus and we should not go out if we are sick etc,.,,
CFarrugia
Jan 1st 2010, 10:15
Can someone take responsibility for the fact that the vaccines arrived so late???????? in EU countries, everyone has already been vaccinated in November and in malta nobody is protected as yet...the vaccine takes three weeks till it works so people who have been vaccinated are still not protected....the government blamed the pharmaceutical company which was supposed to deliver the vaccines, but I find it a shame that even people at high risk such as health workers are receiving the vaccine only now. in Germany we got it in november and this led to a reduced number of swine flu cases, in Malta I seem to have the impression that they had a great deal of cases for such a small country....
j curajar
Jan 1st 2010, 10:03
Please can the Health Authorties do not mislead the people ?