This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/8099832.stm

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
First UK swine flu patient death First UK swine flu patient death
(about 3 hours later)
The swine flu virus has claimed its first victim in the UK, after a female patient died in a Scottish hospital.The swine flu virus has claimed its first victim in the UK, after a female patient died in a Scottish hospital.
The patient, who had underlying health problems, was one of 10 people being treated in the greater Glasgow area, said a Scottish government spokesman. The patient, who had underlying health problems, is understood to have died while being treated at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley.
The death is the first outside the Americas, where more than 140 people have died since the pandemic began.The death is the first outside the Americas, where more than 140 people have died since the pandemic began.
Swine flu has now infected almost 500 people in Scotland alone, out of 1,261 cases in the UK.Swine flu has now infected almost 500 people in Scotland alone, out of 1,261 cases in the UK.
Thirty-five new cases in Scotland were confirmed on Sunday. The patient was one of 10 people being treated for swine flu in the greater Glasgow area.
A statement issued by the Scottish Government said: "With regret, we can confirm that one of the patients who had been in hospital, and had been confirmed as suffering from the H1N1 virus, has died today.A statement issued by the Scottish Government said: "With regret, we can confirm that one of the patients who had been in hospital, and had been confirmed as suffering from the H1N1 virus, has died today.
"The patient had underlying health conditions.""The patient had underlying health conditions."
The statement added that, at the family's request, no further details would be released about the patient, whose age and address remain unknown. It's worth remembering that seasonal flu kills several thousand people in the UK each winter Fergus Walsh, BBC medical correspondent class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/ferguswalsh/">Fergus On Flu: latest blog entry
Together with 61 new cases of swine flu in England and one case in Northern Ireland confirmed on Sunday, a total of 1,261 people have now caught the virus in the UK. Scottish Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: "I'd like to express my condolences to the patient's family and friends. This is a tragedy for those concerned and they have my heartfelt sympathy.
"Tragic though today's death is, I would like to emphasise that the vast majority of those who have H1N1 are suffering from relatively mild symptoms."
The BBC's medical correspondent Fergus Walsh said: "Swine flu does present a slightly higher risk to those with existing respiratory illness, asthma, cardiovascular disease and obesity."
He added: "It's worth remembering that seasonal flu kills several thousand people in the UK each winter. The difference with H1N1 swine flu is that the virus is almost exclusively targeting people under 65."
Thirty-five new cases of swine flu in Scotland were confirmed on Sunday.
Together with 61 new cases in England and one case in Northern Ireland confirmed on Sunday, a total of 1,261 people have now caught the virus in the UK.
Another 486 possible UK cases are being investigated.Another 486 possible UK cases are being investigated.
Chances remoteChances remote
Virologist Professor John Oxford said that despite the death, the public should not panic.Virologist Professor John Oxford said that despite the death, the public should not panic.
"I still think the chances of picking up the virus are remote. It is not going to get any worse during the summer.""I still think the chances of picking up the virus are remote. It is not going to get any worse during the summer."
Professor Oxford said he did not think the the public had become complacent and said the country was well prepared in terms of anti-viral drugs.Professor Oxford said he did not think the the public had become complacent and said the country was well prepared in terms of anti-viral drugs.
The UK government outlined measures it has taken to combat the outbreak earlier this week.The UK government outlined measures it has taken to combat the outbreak earlier this week.
Ministers urged people not to alter their normal behaviour and follow hand hygiene guidelines.Ministers urged people not to alter their normal behaviour and follow hand hygiene guidelines.