Thursday, September 29, 2011

** Ambulance staff in Auckland, New Zealand quarantined after measles outbreak

** Beaten California paramedic goes outside for first time;doctors say progress just start of long haul

NEW ZEALAND NEWS

** Several St. John Ambulance staff in Auckland have been quarantined now that an outbreak of measles is overtaking the service. The Otago Daily Times (September 28) said so far one employee has had his case confirmed. Others are being tested for immunity, while a number of workers have been isolated. Since May, the city has noted 179 cases of measles, with 11 being definitively diagnosed in the past week.

UNITED STATES NEWS

** A California paramedic, beaten into a coma outside Dodger Stadium in March, has now gone outside for the first time in six months. That is the word from CBS News (September 28) which said Bryan Stow, 42, is also able to recognize family members and recall childhood memories. Stow, who can only speak a few words at once, suffered traumatic brain damage in the post baseball game attack. While encouraged by his progress, Stow’s doctors said he still has a long way to go before adequate recovery is possible. Stow continues to receive treatment in a San Francisco hospital.