Swine flu winter: 200 fight for life as number of patients doubles in a week

According to reports in today’s newspapers, nearly two hundred swine flu victims were fighting for their lives last night. The number of patients in intensive care has doubled in a week and many of them are either elderly or pregnant. Fourteen have so far died. Seventeen of the 190 are being kept alive by highly-specialised heart and lung machines – three times the usual number.

It is feared that the swine flu strain may have grown more virulent over the past 12 months with victims quickly becoming dangerously ill. Intensive care units are warned to look out for the illness in new admissions, with medics urged to use antiviral medicines if they have the least suspicion a patient has it. Hospital managers have been holding emergency meetings to draw up plans to tackle a further onslaught of cases. It is thought the cold weather could cause a surge of admissions, putting intensive care units under massive strain. Analysis by SDI Healthcare, which models flu rates based on reports from GPs and chemists, suggests infection rates are at a five-year high.

It estimates that nine million Britons have been struck down – nearly one in six of the population. Twice the level seen this time last year, the infection rate is 36 per cent above normal, making it the worst flu outbreak in five years.

Three strains of influenza are in circulation: H1N1 or swine flu, flu B and H2N3. Swine flu is proving the most deadly and has claimed 14 of this winter’s 17 victims.

Pregnant women, the obese and asthmatics are at greater risk, with the virus far more common in those under the age of 65. GPs blame the surge in cases in part on low vaccination rates, particularly among younger age groups.

For further information on who is at risk this winter with the H1N1 virus (Swine Flu) please visit http://www.medical-specialists.co.uk/news/2010/11/19/who-is-at-risk-from-flu-this-winter/

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