Queensland swine flu deaths 'inevitable'

AAP

July 10, 2009 04:50pm


QUEENSLAND Health Minister Paul Lucas says swine flu deaths are inevitable, as 16 Queenslanders remained in hospital with the illness.

Queensland is yet to record any H1N1 deaths but six people are in intensive care and a further 10 in hospital.

To date 1622 cases have been confirmed in the state.

Eighteen Australians with swine flu have died and almost 8,000 have caught the virus, according to federal government figures today.

However, the tally is likely to be much higher because Victoria has stopped testing to confirm the illness.

"Swine flu in most cases is relatively mild compared to some other flu cases. However people have died already in Australia. More will and in Queensland we'll see deaths in due course," Mr Lucas told reporters in Brisbane.

A normal flu season takes 1000 to 3000 lives each year, depending on which viruses are circulating.

Queensland Chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young said Queensland Health expected "quite large numbers'' of deaths once the H1N1 strain spreads in the community.
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"The worst is yet to come," Dr Young said.

Queensland schools return next week after a two-week break but there won't be precautionary closures.

"There's no point continuing to close them because we've got significant spread already in our community, so it's not going to work as a strategy," Dr Young said.

Dr Young said the flu was likely to spread rapidly once it reached schools.

She said those in high-risk groups need to take great care and avoid public events.

The vulnerable include people with chronic disease, indigenous people, pregnant women and immuno-compromised people.

"Anyone who is unwell shouldn't go to mass gatherings," Dr Young said.

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