UK : Teenage boy dies from swine flu

Via Oldham Evening Chronicle :

" A TEENAGE boy from Oldham has become the latest swine flu victim to die. He is among four more fatal victims from Greater Manchester as the region bears the brunt of the virus. They included a man from Trafford and a patient from Tameside General Hospital, while it’s also believed to have contributed to the death of a young child in Bury.

There have now been 12 deaths from H1N1 and Influenza B in Greater Manchester out of 39 nationally. There are fears that the fast increasing outbreak could become an epidemic when children return to schools and nurseries this week and many employers return to work after the festive break — giving it more opportunity to spread.

The 39 deaths since October include 11 under-15s, with swine flu more likely to affect younger people than the elderly. The virus has put pressure on the NHS with 738 patients across the country now in intensive care with suspected flu."