A woman has become the 10th person with swine flu to die in Scotland.
The 62-year-old from the Forth Valley NHS area had “significant underlying health conditions”, health officials said.
The death was reported as new figures revealed the number of people thought to have swine flu in Scotland has almost doubled in the past week.
Estimates suggest that almost 13,800 people caught the H1N1 bug last week compared with about 7,000 the previous week.
Scottish Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: “As we have seen in previous cases, this patient was suffering from underlying health conditions and her death should not cause alarm among the general population.”
At an earlier briefing in St Andrew’s House, Edinburgh, Ms Sturgeon said the virus was becoming the “predominant strain” of flu.
The updated figure was based on data from 732 GP practices – equal to 71% of Scotland’s total. Previously, the Scottish government’s weekly updates were based on 58 practices.
The results showed a 7% increase in GP consultations for flu-like illness, equal to 103.7 people per 100,000. The number of samples testing positive for swine flu increased from 17.6% to 34.1%.
Ms Sturgeon said: “We are not unique here – the increases that we are seeing this week, which build on a steady increase over the last three or four weeks, are being mirrored in all other parts of the UK.
“Northern Ireland has seen an even more dramatic increase this week – their consultation rates are now above 200 per 100,000.”
Related posts:
- Swine flu cases rise in England and Scotland Rates of swine flu in England and Scotland have increased...
- American soldier dead – Swine flu to blame COLUMBIA, S.C. — A 23-year-old soldier from Florida who was...
- A young child (3 years old) dies in Dallas, TX from Swine Flu A 3-year-old girl with underlying medical conditions died from...
- India death toll up to 220 dead from Swine Flu – Country working hard towards producing a vaccine India is working overtime to come out with a swine...
- 40 Children Dead in USA From Swine FLU The first analysis of children who have died of...
