The number of people known to have died after contracting swine flu has doubled in three days, officials said today.

Fourteen people infected with the virus are now known to have died as thousands of people seek medical help with their symptoms every day.

At least 335 people have needed hospital treatment after contracting the H1N1 flu strain with the level of infection in London already reaching epidemic levels. Of these, 43 were still said to be in a “critical condition”.

The figures mean that Britain now has the third highest number of cases of swine flu in the world after the US and Mexico, Sir Liam Donaldson, the Chief Medical Officer, said. The virus has caused hundreds of deaths worldwide.

But health officials said that the health service was “coping well” with outbreaks of illness as most cases were mild and did not require medical treatment.

Sir Liam admitted it was unknown how many people in the UK were truly suffering from the virus as many people would be treating themselves at home rather than contacting their GP.

The latest figures from the Government suggest that as many as 27,000 people in England and Wales contacted their GP complaining about “flu-like illness” in a single week, with the worst-affected areas being London and the West Midlands.

Source/Full Story: Times Online

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