FED: Nation's swine flu outbreak not past peak: Roxon

AAP General News (Australia)
08-26-2009
FED: Nation's swine flu outbreak not past peak: Roxon

MELBOURNE, Aug 26 AAP - The nation's swine flu pandemic has not yet passed its peak,
Health Minister Nicola Roxon says.

In Melbourne to address a national consultation on health reform, Ms Roxon said the
latest data showed about 80 per cent of people tested with flu-like symptoms had been
diagnosed with the H1N1 virus.

"Obviously there's anecdotal evidence about a drop-off in presentations in particular
areas, but we're seeing increases still in others," Ms Roxon told reporters on Wednesday.

"We are still seeing a fair number of people in the vulnerable groups who are presenting
with quite serious illnesses."

The health minister said evidence from overseas indicated the virus had continued past
the normal winter seasons "for a period of time".

"It's not possible I don't think for us to yet say, and certainly we wouldn't want
to say it prematurely, that we've passed the peak."

There are currently 440 people in hospital around Australia with the H1N1 strain, with
100 of those in intensive care units.

"Obviously we continue to be concerned that this is putting a lot of pressure on hospitals
across the country with peaks rising and dropping off in different states at different
times," Ms Roxon told reporters.

"That number we expect will continue to grow, while the numbers of hospitalisations
are still relatively high."

The death toll from swine flu has reached 138, with two confirmed deaths in the ACT,
36 in NSW, six in the NT, 30 in Qld, 15 in SA, six in Tasmania, 24 in Victoria and 19
in WA.

Once a complete set of safety data has been provided from human trials, the CSL swine
flu vaccine will be ready for approval at a date yet to be determined in September, Ms
Roxon said.

AAP ees/gfr/jl

KEYWORD: FLU ROXON

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