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| Woman gave birth before flu death | Woman gave birth before flu death |
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| A 39-year-old woman gave birth shortly before dying with swine flu, the BBC understands. | A 39-year-old woman gave birth shortly before dying with swine flu, the BBC understands. |
| The mother died in London's Whipps Cross Hospital on 13 July. Her baby is said to be very ill in intensive care. | |
| Meanwhile, a baby under six months old, who died in another London hospital, is also among the latest victims of swine flu in the UK. | |
| Both are thought to have had underlying health conditions and were among the 29 deaths announced on Thursday. | Both are thought to have had underlying health conditions and were among the 29 deaths announced on Thursday. |
| There has been a surge of infections recently with an estimated 55,000 cases in the past week alone. | There has been a surge of infections recently with an estimated 55,000 cases in the past week alone. |
| Doctors have criticised the government for not doing enough to reassure people. | |
| British Medical Association GP leader Dr Laurence Buckman said people were "scared stiff" when they did not need to be. | British Medical Association GP leader Dr Laurence Buckman said people were "scared stiff" when they did not need to be. |
| Dr Buckman said swine flu for most was a nasty but relatively mild illness, however he said people were panicking and swamping doctors with calls. | Dr Buckman said swine flu for most was a nasty but relatively mild illness, however he said people were panicking and swamping doctors with calls. |
| Graphic: Rates of flu-like illness in the UK | Graphic: Rates of flu-like illness in the UK |
| The government has been forced to launch the National Pandemic Flu Service in England after a surge in requests for information and consultations in the NHS. | The government has been forced to launch the National Pandemic Flu Service in England after a surge in requests for information and consultations in the NHS. |
| THE AT RISK GROUPS People with lung diseasePeople with heart diseasePeople with kidney diseasePeople with diabetesThose with immunosuppression problems either because of treatment or diseasePatients who have had drug treatment for asthmaPregnant womenChildren under five | THE AT RISK GROUPS People with lung diseasePeople with heart diseasePeople with kidney diseasePeople with diabetesThose with immunosuppression problems either because of treatment or diseasePatients who have had drug treatment for asthmaPregnant womenChildren under five |
| The web and phone service, which will be able to dispense anti-flu drugs will go live by the end of next week. | The web and phone service, which will be able to dispense anti-flu drugs will go live by the end of next week. |
| It will not cover Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as demand for services is not as high there, but they will be able to opt in if they need to. | It will not cover Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as demand for services is not as high there, but they will be able to opt in if they need to. |
| Ministers said it should relieve the pressure on the NHS in England. | Ministers said it should relieve the pressure on the NHS in England. |
| Every region of England has seen a dramatic rise in demand over the last seven days with all areas except Yorkshire and the Humber reporting "exceptional" levels of activity. | Every region of England has seen a dramatic rise in demand over the last seven days with all areas except Yorkshire and the Humber reporting "exceptional" levels of activity. |
| GPs have been particularly hard hit with the weekly flu consultation rates now above winter levels with some surgeries seeing demand at twice and even three times the epidemic level. | GPs have been particularly hard hit with the weekly flu consultation rates now above winter levels with some surgeries seeing demand at twice and even three times the epidemic level. |
| Professor Steve Fields: "We're getting a lot of phone calls from people who are anxious or worried" | Professor Steve Fields: "We're getting a lot of phone calls from people who are anxious or worried" |
| But Dr Buckman said: "The problem is that we have 60m people who are scared stiff. Certainly there is a risk, but for most people it is the fear rather than a reality. | But Dr Buckman said: "The problem is that we have 60m people who are scared stiff. Certainly there is a risk, but for most people it is the fear rather than a reality. |
| "The mortality rate is pretty similar to seasonal flu, although it is hitting younger age groups. For most it will be a nasty, but relatively mild illness. | "The mortality rate is pretty similar to seasonal flu, although it is hitting younger age groups. For most it will be a nasty, but relatively mild illness. |
| "But we are getting so much information that people are getting worried. | "But we are getting so much information that people are getting worried. |
| "The risk is that people who are ill do not get through and that includes people who have not got the flu, but have diabetes, heart disease or asthma. That would be disastrous." | "The risk is that people who are ill do not get through and that includes people who have not got the flu, but have diabetes, heart disease or asthma. That would be disastrous." |
| 'Headlines not helped' | 'Headlines not helped' |
| Dr Buckman said he was not suggesting the government should not be open with the data, but that officials should be stressing the mild nature of the illness more. | Dr Buckman said he was not suggesting the government should not be open with the data, but that officials should be stressing the mild nature of the illness more. |
| But he also said the media had a responsibility to handle information responsibly. "Some of the newspaper headlines have not helped." | But he also said the media had a responsibility to handle information responsibly. "Some of the newspaper headlines have not helped." |
| A Department of Health spokesman said: "The chief medical officer has consistently reiterated that it is a mild illness for many. He has said that every single time. | A Department of Health spokesman said: "The chief medical officer has consistently reiterated that it is a mild illness for many. He has said that every single time. |
| "We have tried to be open and honest and put it in context all the time we have given information." | "We have tried to be open and honest and put it in context all the time we have given information." |
| AREAS WITH HIGHEST WEEKLY DEMAND FOR GPS Tower Hamlets - 759 flu consultations per 100,000City and Hackney - 392Islington - 306Newham - 293Luton - 272Epidemic levels are classed as 200 | AREAS WITH HIGHEST WEEKLY DEMAND FOR GPS Tower Hamlets - 759 flu consultations per 100,000City and Hackney - 392Islington - 306Newham - 293Luton - 272Epidemic levels are classed as 200 |
| Meanwhile, NHS London also sought to reassure people about the most recent deaths. | Meanwhile, NHS London also sought to reassure people about the most recent deaths. |
| As well as the baby who died at the Royal Free Hospital and the 39-year-old mother, a 70-year-old man died at Royal London Hospital as well as another patient at St Thomas' Hospital. | As well as the baby who died at the Royal Free Hospital and the 39-year-old mother, a 70-year-old man died at Royal London Hospital as well as another patient at St Thomas' Hospital. |
| Dr Simon Tanner, regional director of public health at NHS London, said: "We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to each of the families affected at this very difficult time. | Dr Simon Tanner, regional director of public health at NHS London, said: "We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to each of the families affected at this very difficult time. |
| "It is also important that these deaths be kept in perspective. | "It is also important that these deaths be kept in perspective. |
| "All four had underlying health conditions and these upsetting cases should be kept in context with the many people who have had swine flu and recovered just a few days after experiencing a mild illness." | "All four had underlying health conditions and these upsetting cases should be kept in context with the many people who have had swine flu and recovered just a few days after experiencing a mild illness." |
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