Swine flu claims child
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A child is the latest victim of swine flu as New Zealand’s death toll has climbed to 11 and the flu season peak is yet to come.
There are now a total of 2443 confirmed cases of swine flu, or influenza A (H1N1), up from 2368 yesterday. .
No further details about the victim have been released, at the request of the family.
The child died within the past week in the Mid Central District Health Board region, and had underlying medical conditions.
New Zealand’s health services were still feeling the pressure from both seasonal and non-seasonal influenza this winter, but were coping well, said Health Minister Tony Ryall.
An eight-year-old girl also died from the virus in Wellington Hospital earlier this month.
Some hospitals were postponing elective surgery and were at full capacity in their intensive care units but were still on top of things, he said.
“What this surveillance data shows us is that we have not yet reached a peak in the number of people who will experience influenza this year.
“Latest data from ESR’s GP sentinel surveillance system shows a sharp spike in the number of consultations for influenza-like illnesses,” Mr Ryall said.”
Healthline continued to receive a large number of calls from people with influenza-like symptoms, although the volume of calls had dropped in the past week. We anticipate that our health services will continue to be under pressure for some time yet.
So far, the highest consultation rates have been reported among children and teenagers aged from birth to 19 years.
There was a continuing sharp increase in consultations for influenza like illnesses through ESR’s GP sentinel surveillance system since last week, said deputy director of public health Fran McGrath.
The highest weekly influenza consultation rates have been reported from South Auckland, Wellington and South Canterbury health districts.
The highest weekly influenza consultation rates have been reported from South Auckland, Wellington and South Canterbury health districts