July 10, 2009

expert comments on first UK death from swine flu with no underlying health complications

All previous UK deaths from swine flu have been in patients with underlying health conditions such as asthma. However, experts emphasised that this development is not unexpected.

Prof Robert Dingwall, Director of Institute for Science and Society, University of Nottingham, said:

“This is not at all unexpected – there have been a few deaths elsewhere in the world among people with no obvious underlying condition. However, it does not really affect the growing body of evidence that the first pandemic of the 21st century is a relatively mild one and that death rates are likely to be broadly comparable with the annual toll from seasonal flu. There certainly will be more deaths like this one – but most deaths will still occur among people who have some serious underlying condition, and are already likely to be under active medical management.”