NSW: Five more deaths linked to swine flu in NSW

AAP General News (Australia)
08-27-2009
NSW: Five more deaths linked to swine flu in NSW

SYDNEY, Aug 27 AAP - Five more people with swine flu have died in NSW, the state's
chief health officer says.

Dr Kerry Chant on Thursday confirmed the five had underlying medical conditions before
contracting Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza.

The death of the two men, aged 41 and 42, and three women, aged 56, 69 and 85, brings
the total of swine flu-related fatalities in NSW to 41.

Dr Chant said that the major risk factors for patients admitted to intensive care with
confirmed H1N1 influenza have predominantly been chronic lung disease, diabetes, morbid
obesity, chronic heart failure and pregnancy.

Dr Chant reminded pregnant women, Aboriginal people and anyone with underlying medical
conditions or moderate to severe illness to consult their doctor immediately.

The number of influenza-like illness presentations to emergency departments has continued
to decline and is now lower than the largest seasonal peak of recent years.

"In the last seven days, there were 203 influenza-like illness presentations to emergency
departments monitored by NSW Health," Dr Chant said in a statement.

"This is a significant decline from the previous week's total of 338.

"Hospital admissions with pneumonia or influenza-like illness peaked in mid-July and
are now at the lower end of the seasonal range for this time of year."

There are 19 confirmed swine flu sufferers in intensive care in NSW.

AAP hn/ht

KEYWORD: FLU NSW

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