"Relatively large" increase in swine flu deaths

LONDON (Reuters) - Last week saw a "relatively large" increase in deaths of patients who had contracted H1N1 swine flu although the number of new cases fell, health officials said on Thursday.

A total of 182 people in Britain have now died from the virus, Chief Medical Officer Liam Donaldson said, with about a fifth of those previously healthy.

In England, there have now been 124 deaths up from 105 last week, he said.

Figures from the Health Protection Agency showed an estimated 64,000 people had contracted the flu in England last week, down from 84,000 the previous week. Donaldson said the half-term break could have had an effect on the numbers.

"We don't know whether this is the start of a downturn or not," he told reporters.

So far, there have been an estimated 670,000 cases of the virus in England. Donaldson said 785 were currently being treated in hospital, down from 848 last week, with 173 in intensive care.

Most new cases were reported in children aged under 4, but Donaldson said for the first time they were seeing an upturn in the virus among older age groups.

Officials said 6.6 million doses of flu vaccine had been sent out to GPs' surgeries and most should have received their allocation by the end of the week.

Donaldson said they were also issuing new guidance for pregnant women about the illness and, responding to suggestions that many were concerned about the vaccine, repeated the official advice that they should have the shot.