Pregnant Borders teenager who died from swine flu is named

Published on Friday 16 October 2009 22:15

THE young woman who died of swine flu when she was eight months pregnant has been named as Denise Murray.

The 17-year-old died at the Borders General Hospital on Wednesday. Staff were unable to save Denise or her unborn child.

Yesterday, the teenager's family, who live at Tweedbank near Melrose, and her boyfriend's family, from the Burnfoot area of Hawick, were too shocked and upset to speak.

Neighbours described Ms Murray as a popular and friendly young woman who had moved from Tweedbank about a year ago to live with her boyfriend, Robert Muir, in Burnfoot.

Jennifer Wood, 49, of Tweedbank, whose daughter goes to Earlston High School, where Ms Murray was previously a pupil, said: "It is very sad.

"There have been a lot of people coming and going at the house, presumably to pass on their condolences.

"But it's far too soon to come to terms with for her family."

Denise was the only girl in a family with five brothers. Her mother, Sandra, was at home yesterday, being comforted by friends and family.

One friend, at the Halo hair salon in Tweedbank, and described Denise as a "gorgeous bubbly girl".

She said: "It is just so raw that nobody knows what to say. Denise used to come here with me and we would get our hair done – she was a gorgeous, lovely girl.

"Everyone knows her family because of all the boys and you would struggle to find anything bad to say about them. What can you say when they are expecting an addition to the family and instead they lose their girl?

"It is tragic and I would not want to say much more out of respect for Sandra."

Lynn Hanson, of newsagents Burnfoot News in Hawick, said Ms Murray was a regular customer.

"It is a terrible tragedy. It is the family you feel sorry for. Burnfoot is quite a close-knit community. I think people will be shocked when they find out."

Yesterday, Yvonne McCracken, head of schools at Scottish Borders Council, said: "We would like to send our heartfelt sympathies and condolences to all of Denise's friends and family at this very sad and difficult time."

Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon said Ms Murray's death was "deeply saddening".

Next Wednesday sees the start of the swine flu vaccination campaign in Scotland and across the UK. Patients in hospital will be the first to receive the jabs, with GP practices starting to invite people in for vaccination the following week.

Pregnant women are among the 1.3 million people in the at-risk groups being invited for vaccination in the first wave of the campaign.

Leading microbiologist Professor Hugh Pennington said it was important that pregnant women took up the offer of vaccination.

Experts have warned that pregnant women are up to four times more likely to suffer serious complications if they catch swine flu compared to other people.

Prof Pennington said: "As soon as the vaccine is available, women should go for it. They shouldn't have any worries about it. We have been using flu vaccines since the 1940s and they have a very good track record."

The two jabs to be used in the vaccination campaign are Pandemrix, made by GlaxoSmith Kline, and Celvapan, from Baxter International.

Pandemrix will be given in one dose to the majority of people while Celvapan, which is suitable for those with egg allergies, will be given in two jabs.

So far, 15 deaths from swine flu have been confirmed in Scotland, with 106 across the UK. Last week, an estimated 12,500 people in Scotland contracted the virus.

There has also been a surge in people being admitted to hospital with complications linked to H1N1, with 64 needing treatment last week, the highest number of weekly admissions since the pandemic began in May.