First 'healthy' swine flu death in UK
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'It is important to stress that the symptoms of swine flu are, relatively speaking, mild.'
Dr Andrea Atherton, director of public health for NHS South East Essex
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11 Jul 2009: A patient in Essex has become the first person to die from swine flu in the UK without having previous health problems.
The person died at Basildon and Thurrock University Hospital on Friday, according to NHS East of England.
There have been 14 people who have previously died in the UK from swine flu, but these people all had 'underlying' health problems, such as pneumonia, asthma or a heart condition.
But medical experts are warning people not to panic. 'This doesn't change things at the moment,' said Professor Steve Field, chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners. 'We would expect a certain number of deaths. I would have expected a death with no underlying causes to have happened earlier.'
The Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson added: 'As with all flu-like viruses, some people are at higher risk than others. Unfortunately, people who are otherwise healthy could also become seriously ill or, sadly, die
The patient's family has asked for details of their relative not to be released.
Where to next?
- Have you got swine flu? How can you tell?
- Swine flu need to know guide - the latest news and all the facts
- How to stop infections and viruses from spreading
- Professor John Oxford, Virology specialist, on preventing colds and flu
- Worried about another condition? More health information
By Rob Mansfield
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