UK - Twenty-nine people have now died after contracting swine flu

[Gert van der Hoek]

Twenty-nine people have now died in the UK after contracting swine flu, the Government has announced.


GPs have reported an increase in patients complaining of 'flu-like' symptons.

The latest victim is a female tourist who died in hospital in Scotland, Health Secretary Nicola Surgeon has said.

The woman, who had "significant underlying medical conditions" died at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness yesterday evening.

The patient was admitted to the hospital more than three weeks ago and had been in intensive care and is the third person suffering from swine flu to have died in Scotland.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that Cherie Blair has suspected swine flu.
The former Prime Minister's wife has pulled out of a series of public engagements while she battles the illness.

It is understood she was identified on Tuesday as likely to have contracted the virus.
Ex-premier Tony Blair and the couple's children have not shown any signs of being infected.
Mrs Blair has been given a course of Tamiflu, and told to rest.
The QC had been due to pick up an honorary degree at Liverpool's Hope University today, and also cancelled a staff barbecue to ensure the virus was not passed on.
Mr Blair's office has refused to comment.

Tony Blair not believed to be infected

It comes as GPs report a leap of almost 50% in the numbers of people contacting them in the last week with fears they have the virus.
Around 40,000 people a week in England and Wales are now complaining to their doctor of "flu-like illness", with a huge rise in the number of young children being affected, according to new figures.

The statistics, from the Royal College of GPs' monitoring system, showed 50.3 people per 100,000 were reporting flu-like illness between June 29 and July 5.
But this leapt 46% to 73.4 people per 100,000 between July 6 and 12.



http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK..._In_UK_As_Tourist_With_Virus_Dies_In_Scotland

 

[JimO]

Re: UK - Twenty-nine people have now died after contracting swine flu

That's 29, up from 18?! Wow.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: UK - Twenty-nine people have now died after contracting swine flu

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/highlands_and_islands/8154301.stm


Third swine flu death in Scotland
Raigmore Hospital
The woman had been admitted to Raigmore Hospital

A third swine flu patient has died in Scotland, the health secretary has revealed.

Nicola Sturgeon said the female tourist died after being admitted to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness three weeks ago.

The woman had underlying health problems, Ms Sturgeon said. No further details have been released.

A 73-year-old man and 38-year-old woman suffering from swine flu died last month. They also had underlying health problems.

Ms Sturgeon said the tourist died on Wednesday.

She added: "This woman's death is a tragedy for her family and friends and I'd like to express my sincere condolences.

Fortunately, the vast majority of those who have H1N1 suffer relatively mild symptoms and make a full recovery


"As we have seen in previous cases, this patient was suffering from underlying health conditions and her death should not cause alarm among the general population.

"Fortunately, the vast majority of those who have H1N1 suffer relatively mild symptoms and make a full recovery. The latest figures for Scotland also show that, while the virus continues to circulate, the rates remain relatively low."

The total number of people with swine flu to have died across the UK now stands at 29.

NHS Highland was dealing with 130 confirmed cases two weeks ago - most of the patients were from Argyll and Bute.

The board, in line with others across the country, does not now confirm numbers after the UK Government said containing the respiratory disease was no longer an option.

Treatment phase

Ministers said at the beginning of the month the emergency response would move to a new "treatment" phase across the UK as there may soon be 100,000 new cases a day.

It means anti-flu drugs will no longer be given to the close contacts of those infected nor will lab testing be done to confirm cases.

The move was made to relieve the pressure on the health service.

The latest figures for Scotland since the change to the reporting system showed that during the last week levels of illness due to the virus remained relatively low, according to the Scottish Government.

It said the rate of GP consultations for flu-like illness - which were not necessarily H1N1 - across Scotland was 25 per 100,000.

This was compared with a peak of 60 cases per 100,000 during a "not particularly bad" flu season last winter.

There have been 44 people with swineflu who have been hospitalised since the start of the outbreak. Two remain in hospital.

 

[kiwibird]

Re: UK - Twenty-nine people have now died after contracting swine flu

It is good to see some members of the UK public receiving timely administration of anti-virals.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that Cherie Blair has suspected swine flu.
The former Prime Minister's wife has pulled out of a series of public engagements while she battles the illness.

It is understood she was identified on Tuesday as likely to have contracted the virus.
Ex-premier Tony Blair and the couple's children have not shown any signs of being infected.
Mrs Blair has been given a course of Tamiflu, and told to rest.

I was not aware that Mrs. Blair had any underlying health concerns.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: UK - Twenty-nine people have now died after contracting swine flu

Source: http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1311968?UserKey=

Cherie Blair may have virus as vaccine costs row breaks
US tourist with swine flu dies in Raigmore

By Tim Pauling

Published: 17/07/2009

A tourist holidaying in the Highlands has died after contracting swine flu ? which has now claimed the lives of 29 people across the UK.

The woman, understood to be a middle-aged American with underlying health problems, died in Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, on Wednesday night.

Her death was confirmed as it emerged ex-prime minister Tony Blair?s wife Cherie is thought to have contracted the virus, and a row broke out between Holyrood and Westminster over who will pay for vaccinating everyone in Scotland.

The tourist from the US had been on holiday with her family when she fell ill. She was admitted to Raigmore three weeks ago and had been in intensive care.

The Scottish Government said no further details were being released at the request of her family. She is the third person to die after contracting swine flu since the virus hit Scotland in April.

News of her death was revealed by Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon at a briefing in Edinburgh yesterday.

She said: ?As we have seen in previous cases, this patient was suffering from underlying health conditions and her death should not cause alarm among the general population.

?Fortunately, the vast majority of those who have H1N1 suffer relatively mild symptoms and make a full recovery.?

Local politicians said the woman?s death was a warning for people with underlying health problems to seek help if they suspected they might have swine flu.

Liberal Democrat public health spokesman and Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross MSP Jamie Stone said: ?This is a desperately sorry situation. The family have the sympathy of all of us living in the Highlands. It is important to remember the vast majority of those who contract H1N1 make a full and healthy recovery, but it is clear that the spread of this virus may not in any way respect geography.

?It is important that people remain vigilant against this virus, no matter where they live, and contact their doctor if they have any concerns.?

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant said: ?It is very sad and tragic for the family, particularly as they were on holiday.?

NHS chiefs warned yesterday that if 30% of the population become infected more than 5,000 people in Scotland could die.

Chief Medical Officer for Scotland Dr Harry Burns stressed that the planning assumptions were not predictions but were ?prudent estimates of a worst case scenario? if there is a serious upsurge of swine flu this coming winter. ?Experience so far suggests mortality is very much lower than those worst case planning assumptions,? he added.

Cherie Blair pulled out of a series of public engagements after it was discovered she may have the virus. She has been given a course of the anti-viral drug Tamiflu and told to rest. Ex-premier Mr Blair and the couple?s children have not shown any signs of being infected.

Finance Secretary John Swinney has written to the UK Government to say that the SNP administration in Edinburgh cannot meet the cost of vaccinating all Scots against the disease from its ?11.2billion health budget, because the money has been spent elsewhere.

But a Treasury spokesman said: ?The administration and delivery of the response to swine flu is devolved, and so are the budgets to meet the costs.?

At yesterday?s briefing, Ms Sturgeon said the Scottish administration, like those in Wales and Northern Ireland, felt there was a strong case for contingency funding from London.

But she said the vaccination programme would go ahead, regardless of the response from Westminster.

?If the funding is not forthcoming it will be met from within the Scottish budget,? she said.

Figures released yesterday showed rates for GP consultations for flu-like illnesses were highest in Tayside, at around 75 per 100,000 of the population, followed by Shetland at 60 and Grampian at 40. Highland had 25 and Forth Valley 30.

 

[Chuck]

Re: UK - Twenty-nine people have now died after contracting swine flu

http://www.kentnews.co.uk/kent-news/Child,-aged-6,-_dies-of-swine-flu_-newsinkent26361.aspx

Child, aged seven, 'dies of swine flu'

A boy, aged seven, is reported to be the latest victim of swine flu in Medway. He is the second child in Britain to die of the illness.

The boy, from Strood, near Rochester, died earlier this week.

If the report is correct he becomes the 29th person to have died from swine flu ? double the figure a week ago.

Medway council has confirmed a six year old has died but there is no official confirmation of the child's school.

It was reported that the child was a pupil at Sherwin Knight Community Infant School but this has been denied even though there is at least one teacher off with the illness.

There are also reports that the child was a pupil at the English Martyr RC School in the area. (This has been confirmed as correct 11am, see later story HERE)

It is also reported that the child was previously healthy and had no underlying health problems, although tests continue.

Keeping checking www.kentnews.co.uk for full details as this story develops during the day.

POSTED: 17/07/2009 08:27:50

 

[Chuck]

Re: UK - Twenty-nine people have now died after contracting swine flu

http://www.kentnews.co.uk/kent-news/School-still-open-despite-_swine-flu_-death-newsinkent26374.aspx

Primary school grieves death of seven year old

A seven-year-old boy has died suddenly of a mystery illness, it has been revealed.

The Strood youngster ? who has not been named officially ? is thought to have passed away on Tuesday evening.

It was initially believed that the English Martyrs' Catholic Primary School pupil contracted swine flu but the Health Protection Agency (HPA) said the ?earliest indication is that he did not die as a result of the virus?.

Reports from the NHS Trust suggest the youngster may have been suffering other health problems and "was admitted with a range of complications unrelated to swine flu".

A remembrance Mass will be held in honour of the boy at the church adjoining the Strood school next week.

Medway Council said the school will remain open for the remainder of the term, closing as planned on Wednesday, July 22.

The council?s children and adult services director Rose Collinson held a press conference outside the council?s Chatham headquarters earlier today. (See video below)

She said: ?Our first thoughts are with the boy, his family and all of his friends.

?We want to make sure his family have privacy to grieve.

?The HPA has said the earliest indications are that he did not die of swine flu.

?We simply do not know the cause of death and cannot speculate at this time.

?It is my understanding that he did not feel well at school on Tuesday and that he died quite suddenly.

?As soon as the school heard of his death the entire school community was informed.

?The school is open as normal, as is the advice from the HPA.

?The HPA?s investigation into the boy?s death is incomplete.?

Yvonne Doyle, Regional Director of Public Health, NHS South East Coast, said test results were pending.

She said: ?We are aware of the case of a seven-year-old who died on Tuesday.

?The child was admitted to hospital. The cause of death has not been confirmed and we are awaiting test results.?

The youngster's death, if it is confirmed as swine flu, brings to 29 the total number of people who have died in the UK. He would be the second child.

Medway Council has already revealed it plans to open a centre specifically to distribute medication to swine flu victims.

The HPA and Medway Council have circulated letters title ?Swine Flu and Schools? giving advice for parents and pupils.

The Government has set up a swine flu information hotline to answer public questions on 0800 1 513 513.

Medway Council's children and adults services director Rose Collinson answers questions from the media: