Woman dies of swine flu

A 30-year-old woman died of swine flu in Dunedin Hospital on Sunday. The woman was admitted with flu-like symptoms on July 28 and did not have any pre-existing medical conditions before her admission.

Otago and Southland District Health Boards' H1N1 incident controller Leanne Samuel said the woman's family did not want any further details released and asked the media to respect that decision. She would not say in which area of the hospital the woman had been.

The woman had been in isolation since she was admitted and had not had contact with any other patients, Ms Samuels said.

Staff who had been caring for the woman had followed standard procedures, such as wearing personal protective equipment such as gowns and face masks, and none of them was showing any signs of flu-like illness.

The woman's death brings the number of swine-flu deaths reported by the Ministry of Health nationwide to 15. Other deaths are being investigated by the coroner's office.

Dunedin Coroner David Crerar confirmed on Monday three Otago and Southland people had died of swine flu.

Deputy director of public health Dr Darren Hunt said nationally the swine-flu pandemic appeared to be abating.

Numbers of people presenting to GPs with flu-like illness were falling.

Hospitals had reported the number of staff off sick was about the same as the corresponding time last year, Dr Hunt said. However, people should not "let their guard down" and should continue good hygiene habits, such as washing and drying hands, covering their mouths when coughing and their noses when sneezing and staying home if sick.

- edith.schofield@odt.co.nz