Over 60 more flu deaths reported

Experts say at-risk groups should still have the flu jab

Sixty-two people died with flu in the UK the last week, bringing the total to 112 since October, figures reveal.

However, the Health Protection Agency said the rise could be due to delayed reporting, with many of the deaths occurring before Christmas.

Most of those who died had swine flu. The majority were aged between 15 and 64, but nine children under 14 died.

Professor John Oxford, a virologist at Barts and the Royal London, suggested the outbreak might be “past the worst”.

But he told the BBC it was important for government and experts like himself to learn lessons.

“It was much bigger than we thought. We should think much more seriously about vaccinating the under-fours.”

Of the 81 deaths where data is available, 63 people were in risk groups for flu.

And of the 47 for vaccine status is known, 40 had not had this season’s flu jab.

Since October, 95 deaths have been linked to swine flu and 12 to the influenza B virus, with the rest unclassified.

The HPA said though that the figures only represented a proportion of those who had died from flu, or from complications such as pneumonia.

The number of people in critical care beds in England has fallen from 783 last week to 661.

Professor John Watson, head of respiratory diseases at the HPA, said: “Our latest flu report suggests levels of people seeing their doctor for flu-like illness is beginning to plateau but this may be skewed by the recent holiday period.

“Flu is still circulating in the community and the message remains that those people in an at-risk group should have their seasonal flu vaccine as soon as possible as this is the best way to protect themselves from flu this winter.”

At-risk groups who are advised to have the jab include pregnant women, the elderly and those with other underlying conditions such as heart problems, diabetes, lung, liver or renal diseases and those who have weakened immune systems.

The HPA added that it had seen a “modest” increase in bacterial infections such as pneumococcal and meningococcal disease, which might be linked to flu, and that it was advising doctors to remain vigilant for them.

Professor Watson added: “The severity of these conditions means that prompt identification and treatment are essential.”

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