[China] - Over 500 medical doctors & nurses infected by Wuhan virus from doing their jobs

[UltimaOnline]

Healthcare workers on the front line have a higher risk of infection

According to SCMP, there are a few main reasons why healthcare workers working an the front line are more likely to be infected by the coronavirus.

One reason is the lack of protective gear for staff, especially hazmat suits.

A doctor told SCMP that medical staff “have been crying out for more donations of medical supplies, especially hazmat suits”.

Even with protective gear, the risk of transmission of the Covid-19 is high.

Ian Lipkin, a professor of epidemiology at Columbia University, was quoted by SCMP as saying:

“The reason for this is that physicians and health care workers have a very intimate relationship with their patients, and even with personal protective equipment, sometimes we use it late, sometimes we get exposed inadvertently, and the efforts we make to support them with fluids and such place us at extremely high risk.”

Another reason that Lipkin gave was that those working at the hospital would be immunosuppressed, which means that they are unable to fight the infection effectively, due to long working hours and exhaustion.

In addition, the healthcare staff are exposed to a larger viral load, or a greater number of viral particles, due to the nature of their job.

Besides physical exhaustion, medical workers are faced with lower morale as they were observed to be “devastated” when they saw the CAT scans of infected colleagues, according to SCMP.

The third reason is the lack of knowledge amongst healthcare staff about how contagious the coronavirus is.

According to an account by Dr Yu Changping, a respiratory specialist with the Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, SCMP reported that he developed a fever on Jan. 14 and later tested positive for the Covid-19.

He said he was not aware of when he became infected as he treated a lot of patients every day but understood that the chance of getting infected was high.

He said:

“The virus is too contagious. We did not have enough understanding about the virus.”

On Jan. 17, Yu was admitted to a hospital with his colleague from the same department and is currently being treated for the coronavirus.

Hospitals in Wuhan are understaffed

At major hospital in Wuhan, a doctor said that there was a lack of manpower and that healthcare staff are working harder as many have fallen ill.

The doctor said:

“Just a very rough estimate, 100 nurses and doctors can look after 100 ordinary beds and 16 ICU beds. If they are sick, not only do they occupy 100 beds, but the staff taking care of 100 beds are gone. That means a hospital loses the capacity of 200 beds.”
“That is why the authorities have to keep sending medics over to Wuhan, not only because there are not enough beds, but because of a lack of health doctors and nurses to take care of the sick beds.”

https://mothership.sg/2020/02/hospital-staff-infected-wuhan/

 

[glockman]

exposed to a larger viral load, or a greater number of viral particles

I have been thinking about this too. At present, there are seven in critical condition in sinkieland. Are these the first few that came from Wuhan? Because they were exposed to a larger viral load? The govt does not provide detailed info. If this is so, it means local transmission could be smaller viral load.

 

[UltimaOnline]

I have been thinking about this too. At present, there are seven in critical condition in sinkieland. Are these the first few that came from Wuhan? Because they were exposed to a larger viral load? The govt does not provide detailed info. If this is so, it means local transmission could be smaller viral load.

Yeah, you've raised a valid point. It's not so much the government covering up, it's more that right now there's a lot that even medical doctors don't know much about the virus and it's infectiousness.

On a related note, many medical doctors in Singapore are advising (contrary to PAP's advice) that everyone (healthy or not) should be wearing masks in public, because as I said, there's a lot of unknowns regarding the virus right now.

 

[glockman]

Yeah, you've raised a valid point. It's not so much the government covering up, it's more that right now there's a lot that even medical doctors don't know much about the virus and it's infectiousness.

On a related note, many medical doctors in Singapore are advising (contrary to PAP's advice) that everyone (healthy or not) should be wearing masks in public, because as I said, there's a lot of unknowns regarding the virus right now.

I don't think they are covering up. Perhaps they do not want to profile those in critical condition. At this point in time, glad there are no more new cases arising from Wuhan/China virus importers.

Yeah, wear a mask in crowded places, buses and MRT. Especially when places have air-con. That's common sense, screw the pap's bad advice.

Also, just read that the UK super-spreader who caught the virus in Singapore has recovered.