New Zealand is still facing swine flu deaths as the number of infections climb. 15 deaths have now been recorded and have been linked to the pandemic H1N1 virus. Director of public health, Marc Jacobs said that effects of H1N1 were continuing and that numbers affected were dependent on geographic region.
The New Zealand Ministry of Health today confirmed that 11 of the deaths were due to swine flu. 5 deaths were reported since Monday in the Auckland and Waitemata health regions. 3 more patients died with confirmed H1N1. Waitemata confirmed the death of 2 males with the H1N1 virus. Both men had underlying health conditions.
The numbers affected do however seem to be declining in certain regions for example the North Island where most of the infections had been occurring. This year so far there have been 583 patients hospitalized in New Zealand with confirmed pandemic influenza type H1N1 and 13 people are in hospital presently with confirmed H1N1.
Like the UK, whilst there have been deaths in New Zealand related to Swine Flu, the overall number are really not significant when compared with the normal death rete associated with seasonal flu.