Latest fatality brings Scots swine flu total to 32

Published on Friday 6 November 2009 21:46

A SCOTTISH patient with swine flu has died, bringing the total deaths to 32, it was announced yesterday.

The latest victim was an adult from NHS Ayrshire and Arran who had a significant underlying health condition.

Last week, figures showed a drop in the number of people contracting swine flu.

GPs are continuing to receive supplies of the vaccine in efforts to vaccinate all at-risk patients by Christmas.

Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon said expressed her sympathy to the family and friends of the latest victim.

"Fortunately, for most H1N1 is mild, and symptoms shouldn't persist longer than a week, but some people are at greater risk of influenza complications, and that is why priority groups have been identified as part of the vaccination programme," she said.

"Everyone who is in the priority groups will be invited by their GP to take up the vaccine."

The most recent figures show 17,487 people were estimated to have contracted swine flu in the past week – down from 19,200 the previous week.