| It looked like a scene from one of the apocalyptic | | | | tents as there are so many people waiting. A |
| movies which usually appear on the big screen, | | | | glance around the facility reveals that many of |
| but in reality it was as close as your nearby | | | | the patients waiting to see the doctors all display |
| hospital. It has been reported that the Dell hospital | | | | similar symptoms. To most parents here the high |
| in Texas has been forced to erect and operate | | | | fevers approaching 102 or 103 degrees causes' |
| from large tents due to the influx of flu patients. | | | | great alarm and fears of the child having the H1N1 |
| Although all the hospitals in central Texas are | | | | flu are widespread. |
| registering an increase in patients displaying flu like | | | | Often you see staff walking around the tents |
| symptoms doctors admit that it is particularly | | | | with surgical masks on in an effort not to spread |
| sever at Dell Children's Medical Center. | | | | or catch the illness which is an indication that we |
| The tents are currently open to the public only on | | | | are still experiencing a degree of panic in most |
| Tuesday morning with an expected patient | | | | communities when confronted with this disease. |
| clientele of approximately 300 per day. When | | | | The hospital has indicated that the tents will |
| questioned both the medical professionals and the | | | | remain for as long as necessary since more then |
| staff admit that this is merely the tip of the | | | | half the patients tested have resulted in positive |
| iceberg. They warn that we are in for a very | | | | results for H1N1 virus. Although the government is |
| busy flu season this year. | | | | expecting a vaccine to be available for H1N1 |
| The biggest problem and concern is the waiting | | | | around the beginning of October there are |
| time and it is hoped that the tents will cut this | | | | conflicting comments regarding its safety. In fact |
| time drastically. In the past patients have had to | | | | it has been stated that children under 12 years of |
| wait for as many as four hours before being | | | | age will need two doses of the vaccine. All we |
| seen by a staff professional. Many of the patients | | | | can do now is sit and wait. In the meantime if |
| come to the hospital because their normal | | | | you want to learn more about this disease and |
| doctor's office is booked up and has no openings | | | | what you can do to protect yourself you should |
| at all. You can barely get into the doors of the | | | | check out your favorite internet search engine. |