UK : Most people killed by swine flu 'had no underlying health problems'

Via News Scotsman :

" MORE than half of those killed by swine flu or admitted to hospital with the disease were previously considered to be healthy, new figures have revealed.

A total of 59 per cent of the in-patient deaths from the virus were people with no underlying health conditions, according to the UK-wide study.

Research taken from the first wave of the swine flu pandemic also showed 55 per cent of patients hospitalised by swine flu were not previously living with health problems, such as asthma or breathing difficulties.

The study said more needed to be done to monitor the conditions of swine flu victims once they had been admitted to hospital, such as ensuring those with an illness comparable to flu had a chest X-ray.

The researchers, from Imperial College London, focused on the period between 27 April and 30 September last year, when statistics were collected on 631 people hospitalised with swine flu across the UK. Their ages ranged from three months to 90 years, with 36 per cent under 16 and one in 20 aged 65 and older. Those from black and minority ethnic backgrounds made up more than 60 per cent of admissions."