40 people dead from swine flu but number of cases begins to fall

Published on Thursday 6 August 2009 22:03

FORTY deaths in the UK have now been linked to swine flu but figures showed a drop in the number of cases of the virus.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) revealed that the number of swine flu-related deaths in England jumped by nine, to 36, in the past week.

Four fatal cases have been confirmed in Scotland.

However, the overall number of cases of the virus being diagnosed dropped in England and Scotland last week. The figures came as it was claimed that other EU countries had expressed concerns over the UK's dominance in orders for swine flu vaccines.

Yesterday the HPA estimated there were 30,000 new cases of swine flu in England last week, compared to 110,000 the week before. They said the majority of cases continued to be "mild".

There were 530 patients admitted to hospital in England last week – down on the previous figure of 793.

In Scotland, the rate of GP consultations for flu-like illnesses fell from 55 per 100,000 people to 48.4, with an estimated 1,050 seeing their GP with the H1N1 virus. Taking into account those who have not seen their GP, it was estimated that around 3,000 people had contracted H1N1 in the past week – down from 4,300 the previous week.

A total of 90 people have been hospitalised with the virus in Scotland since the outbreak began; five remain in hospital.

Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: "NHS 24 and our GPs are responding very well to the pandemic, as is our Scottish flu response service. The latest NHS 24 figures show that the number of flu-related daily calls fell to around 2,000."

England's Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson said the rise in the death toll did not indicate the virus was becoming more potent. He said: "I think we are probably seeing the level of increase in the disease that would be expected, really, from the proportion of people in hospitals with serious disease."

But he predicted a new wave of the virus could strike after children returned to school.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation said vaccine manufacturers were on track to start delivering the first batches of swine flu vaccine in September.

Baxter, which along with GSK is supplying vaccines to the UK, also announced the production of the first commercial batches of its own vaccine.

But it has been suggested that Germany and France have expressed concerns about orders placed by countries like the UK which could affect their own ability to get supplies.

More4 News said the European Commission had written to all countries who have placed major pre-orders of vaccines asking them to consider pooling to help under-supplied nations.