04.01.11
Spike in flu deaths
The flu death toll has hit 112.
Despite some headlines claiming a sudden spike over the past week, health chiefs are right to reassure people that the big increase – up from 50 – is a reporting backlog, rather than a huge spate of sudden deaths.
There are now 661 people in critical care with flu symptoms, and lethal secondary infections seem to be taking their toll.
There has been debate about giving the flu jab to all under-fives, prompted by the tragic death of three-year-old Lana Ameen and the media campaign waged by her parents, a nurse and a doctor.
But Prof David Salisbury, DoH immunisation head, is right to keep the restriction in place to the at-risk groups for now. There are sound medical reasons for the decision.
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