Four more swine flu deaths recorded in West Midlands

20 November 2009

By Dave Lambert and Mark Astley: Four more people have died from swine flu in the West Midlands area in the past week, figures emerged today.

It brings the number of swine flu related deaths to 27 in the region.

Local hospitals have also reported that 216 people have been admitted with flu or swine flu symptoms this week, up from 206 last week.

Nigel Smith, Communications Lead for Swine Flu in the West Midlands, said: “The increase in cases is partly to do with the fact that children have gone back to school and people have come back from holidays.

“Obviously as we are approaching winter we’re seeing more cases because the swine flu virus likes the cold.

“We’ve seen a rise recently but it hasn’t been a significant rise, so it’s too early to predict what’s going to happen or worry yet.”

GP surgeries in the West Midlands have this week received their first supplies of the swine flu vaccine since October following the latest numbers to be released.

These show that 61 people per every 100,000 in the West Midlands have reported flu-like symptoms – well over the average in England of 47.9 people (per 100,000).

Dr Rashmi Shukla, Regional Director of Public Health, NHS West Midlands, said: “Sadly there have been a further four swine-flu related deaths and our thoughts are with the families of these patients at this difficult time.

“Over the next few weeks the NHS will continue to vaccinate those most at risk of developing the illness.

“I’d also like to remind people that it is normal to see a rise in respiratory illness, such as flu, at this time of year.”

STORY PUBLISHED AT WWW.STAFFS.AC.UK/STAFFSLIVE