Now swine flu kills first 'fit and healthy' victim in Britain

Published on Friday 10 July 2009 22:21

A HOSPITAL patient from Essex has become the first person without underlying health problems to die after contracting swine flu.

The patient died yesterday at Basildon and Thurrock University Hospital.

NHS East of England said it "would like to extend deepest sympathies to the family affected as they come to terms with their loss".

The patient's family has asked that no details of their relative be released.

And last night, one health expert said the death did not give any extra cause for concern.

John Oxford, professor of virology at Queen Mary's College of Medicine in London, said: "This doesn't necessarily mean the virus has mutated.

"Whether more patients with no underlying health problems die of the disease really depends on what the virus does next."

Meanwhile, the government said yesterday that swine flu sufferers could stay off work for 14 days without a sick note if the pandemic gets worse. The short-term measure will be brought in to relieve the burden on GP surgeries and help to prevent the spread of infection.

At present, employees can be off for seven days, including weekends and bank holidays, without a GP's sick note.

The government may allow swine flu victims to be off work for two weeks before they must prove they are ill, but critics said the system could be open to abuse.

A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions said: "The government is rightly considering possible measures to minimise the risk of further spread of swine flu and protect public health.

"We don't want people to feel obliged to leave home or return to work when they are still unwell, or put an unnecessary burden on GPs in a pandemic. Contingency plans therefore include the possibility of extending self-certification to 14 days for a limited period."

The spokesman said the measures would be implemented "only if absolutely needed".

Professor Sayeed Khan, chief medical adviser at manufacturers' body the EEF, said: "Being realistic, there will be some people who think 'I've got a bit of a cold' and will stay off work.

"There's nothing you can do to fix that. Employers can rely on the good morals of their employees. They can say they will take tough measures against anyone found abusing it, but that's about all they can do."

Fifteen people in the UK are now thought to have died after contracting swine flu and hundreds of thousands more are thought to have the virus.

The government's national framework for dealing with a flu pandemic says up to 50 per cent of the workforce may require time off at some stage, "with individuals absent for a period of seven to ten working days". Staff may also need time off to care for family members.