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Nine-year-old with swine flu dies Girl dies after getting swine flu
(about 1 hour later)
A nine-year-old girl has died at Birmingham Children's Hospital after contracting swine flu. A girl has died at Birmingham Children's Hospital after contracting swine flu.
NHS West Midlands said the girl, who had other serious underlying health conditions, died on Friday evening.NHS West Midlands said the girl, who had other serious underlying health conditions, died on Friday evening.
It is not known if swine flu contributed to her death, the hospital said. Her death is the third swine-flu related fatality in the UK.It is not known if swine flu contributed to her death, the hospital said. Her death is the third swine-flu related fatality in the UK.
Two more deaths were in Scotland. There have been 1,604 confirmed swine flu cases in England since Friday. The other two deaths were in Scotland. There have been 1,604 confirmed swine flu cases in England since Friday.
'Highest number'
The total number of cases in England has reached 4,968 with the UK's total now rising to 5,937.The total number of cases in England has reached 4,968 with the UK's total now rising to 5,937.
Drug resistance
The Health Protection Agency confirmed 588 new cases of swine flu in the West Midlands region on Monday, taking the total number of cases in the region to 2,104.The Health Protection Agency confirmed 588 new cases of swine flu in the West Midlands region on Monday, taking the total number of cases in the region to 2,104.
The number of confirmed cases in the West Midlands is more than a third of the UK's total and more than two-fifths of all the cases in England. Our experience here has been that the vast majority of cases with swine flu are mild Helen Carter, NHS West Midlands
our experience here has been that the vast majority of cases with swine flu are mild Helen Carter, NHS West Midlands Experts have reported the first case of swine flu that is resistant to Tamiflu - the main drug being used to fight the pandemic.
Roche Holding AG confirmed a patient with H1N1 influenza in Denmark showed resistance to the antiviral drug.
The first person to die after contracting swine flu outside North America was Jacqui Fleming, 38, of Glasgow, who died on 14 June.The first person to die after contracting swine flu outside North America was Jacqui Fleming, 38, of Glasgow, who died on 14 June.
A 73-year-old man from Paisley who had the virus was confirmed as having died on Sunday.A 73-year-old man from Paisley who had the virus was confirmed as having died on Sunday.
Six revellers were sent home from the Glastonbury festival over the weekend with suspected swine flu. Six people were sent home from the Glastonbury festival over the weekend with suspected swine flu.
Three or four ball boys and girls suffering from a "flu-like illness" were asked to stay away from the Wimbledon tennis tournament.Three or four ball boys and girls suffering from a "flu-like illness" were asked to stay away from the Wimbledon tennis tournament.
The World Health Organisation has declared the virus a pandemic.
'Small minority''Small minority'
Dr Helen Carter, Consultant in Public Health, NHS West Midlands said: "Our thoughts are with the family of the patients at this very sad time. Dr Helen Carter, Consultant in Public Health, NHS West Midlands said: "Our thoughts are with the family of the patient at this very sad time.
"The family have asked for the patient's identity to be kept private and we will not be releasing any further details."The family have asked for the patient's identity to be kept private and we will not be releasing any further details.
"We ask that you respect the families' privacy at this difficult time.
"The West Midlands have seen the highest number of cases of swine flu.
"It is important to remember that our experience here has been that the vast majority of cases with swine flu are mild.""It is important to remember that our experience here has been that the vast majority of cases with swine flu are mild."
'Do better' It was initially reported that the girl was aged nine. The hospital later said this was not the case, but refused to give her age.
A Department of Health Spokesperson said the cases of swine flu found in the UK have "so far been generally mild in most people". A Department of Health spokesperson said the cases of swine flu found in the UK had so far been "generally mild" in most people.
But she said they were proving to be "severe in a small minority of cases".But she said they were proving to be "severe in a small minority of cases".
Containment phase
The spokesperson added: "We are continuing to work to slow the spread of the disease in the majority of the UK.The spokesperson added: "We are continuing to work to slow the spread of the disease in the majority of the UK.
"But we are allowing a more flexible outbreak management approach in areas where more community transmission has taken place. "But we are allowing a more flexible outbreak management approach in areas where more community transmission has taken place."
"Here, it makes sense to move beyond extensive swabbing and all contact tracing." Last week health officials in the West Midlands and London said swine flu cases would be clinically diagnosed, rather than being confirmed by laboratory results.
Earlier on Monday, Dr Hamish Meldrum, head of the British Medical Association (BMA), said the public can rely upon doctors to "step up to the mark" as swine flu spreads. The new policy means swabbing will take place only for a small number of cases to keep track of the strength of the virus.
He said flu plans were currently working quite well across the UK, apart from in some areas where NHS trusts thought they could "do better" by departing from national guidance. Doctors will also use the drug Tamiflu more selectively, targeting only people with symptoms.
Chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson stressed that many parts of the country were still in the containment phase.
But he warned there could be "tens of thousands of cases" of swine flu each week by the autumn because the virus was more likely to thrive in the colder months.
Dr Hamish Meldrum, head of the British Medical Association (BMA), said on Monday the public could rely upon doctors to "step up to the mark" as swine flu spreads.
Some 366 retired GPs have joined a BMA register, saying they are willing to treat patients if the flu pandemic reaches crisis point.Some 366 retired GPs have joined a BMA register, saying they are willing to treat patients if the flu pandemic reaches crisis point.
Dr Meldrum told doctors attending the BMA conference in Liverpool: "As yet, we haven't seen how well the UK will respond to the effects of a full-blown pandemic.
"But what I can say and where I can reassure the public is that, whatever the crisis, you can rely on the doctors of the UK to step up to the mark."