Australia - swine flu deaths - 53

[Chuck]

http://www.theage.com.au/national/two-more-swine-flu-deaths-20090629-d23d.html

Two more swine flu deaths
Mex Cooper
June 29, 2009 - 2:20PM

Two more Victorians with swine flu have died, bringing the national death toll to six.

The men aged 50 and 85 both had pre-exisiting medical conditions, Victoria's acting Chief Health Officer Rosemary Lester said.

"The 50-year-old was being treated for a life-threatening cancer and was later diagnosed with H1N1 Influenza 09. He died while receiving treatment in hospital," she said.

"The 85-year-old man also had a range of underlying medical conditions and was being treated in hospital. These pre-existing conditions made him more susceptible to any influenza-like illnesses.

"We extend our sincere condolences to both families."

The men's families asked that further details of their medical histories be released.

Dr Lester again stressed that swine flu was in general a mild illness.

Five Victorians diagnosed with the H1N1 virus have died and one Western Australian man.

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Two more swine flu deaths

Re: Two more swine flu deaths

Australian A/H1N1 flu death toll reaches 7

www.chinaview.cn 2009-06-29

CANBERRA, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Australia's tally of A/H1N1 flu-related deaths reached seven on Monday following the deaths of two Victorian men.

The two men, aged 50 and 85, had underlying medical conditions.

Victoria's deputy chief health officer Rosemary Lester revealed the Department of Human Services was told of the deaths over the weekend.

"The 50-year-old was being treated for a life-threatening cancer and was later diagnosed with A/H1N1 flu," Lester said, adding "he died while receiving treatment in hospital.

"The 85-year-old man also had a range of underlying medical conditions and was being treated in hospital. These pre-existing conditions made him more susceptible to any influenza-like illnesses."

Lester said the families of both men have requested that no details of their medical history be released.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-06/29/content_11619330.htm

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Australia - swine flu deaths - 7

Re: Australia - swine flu deaths - 7

Source: http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,27574,25706818-2862,00.html


Swine flu kills two more Victorians
Article from: Herald Sun
June 29, 2009 02:17pm

TWO Victorian men have died after contracting swine flu, bringing the death toll for the state to five.

The men, aged 50 and 85, died during the weekend Deputy Chief Health Officer, Dr Rosemary Lester said.

?The 50-year-old was being treated for a life-threatening cancer and was later diagnosed with H1N1 Influenza 09. He died while receiving treatment in hospital," she said.

?The 85-year-old man also had a range of underlying medical conditions and was being treated in hospital. These pre-existing conditions made him more susceptible to any influenza-like illnesses.

?We extend our sincere condolences to both families."

The deaths bring Victoria's swine flu toll to five and the national toll to seven.

A 26-year-old man from a remote Western Australian Aboriginal community was Australia's first swine flu death. A 26-year-old woman from the remote WA Aboriginal community of Kiwirrkurra west of Alice Springs also died after contracting the virus.

In Victoria, the virus has claimed the lives of Colac man Anthony Splatt, 35, a 50-year-old woman who was receiving treatment for cancer at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, and a 71-year-old woman.

Dr Lester said 1,560 people in Victoria had been diagnosed with the potentially deadly viurs.

?We also know that there are many milder cases in the community which have not been tested," she said.

?People who are at high risk due to conditions such as pregnancy, respiratory disease (such as asthma), heart disease, diabetes, renal disease, obesity and immunosuppression should present to their doctor if they develop respiratory symptoms, so that they can be treated as soon as possible."

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Australia - swine flu deaths - 9

Re: Australia - swine flu deaths - 9

Boy, 3, dies after getting swine flu


Australia's tally from swine flu-related deaths is now nine.


He is the first child and ninth person with the virus to die in Australia.

Victoria's Department of Human Services says the death is being actively investigated by the coroner and police.

Earlier, the department said a 68-year-old Victorian man with swine flu had died.

The department was informed of the man's death yesterday afternoon.

Victoria's acting chief health officer, Dr Rosemary Lester, said the man had been receiving treatment for cancer.

"The man was being treated for a life-threatening cancer and was later diagnosed. He died while receiving treatment in hospital," she said in a statement.

"Our sympathies are with the family."

Dr Lester said the man's family had requested that no further details of his medical history be released.

Seven Victorians and two Western Australians have died with the virus.

Dr Lester reiterated advice that swine flu "is a mild illness, which many people recover from without any medical treatment".

But she added: "However, we know that for people with chronic medical conditions, influenza can be severe."

She said people who are at high risk - due to conditions such as pregnancy, respiratory disease, heart disease, diabetes, renal disease, obesity and immunosuppression - should see their doctor if they develop symptoms.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/01/2614158.htm

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Australia - swine flu deaths - 12

Re: Australia - swine flu deaths - 12

# 12 First swine flu death recorded in NT

There are now more than 350 cases of swine flu in the Northern Territory.

http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=114313


Australia reports 11th swine flu-related death

MELBOURNE (AFP) ? Australia reported its 11th death linked to swine flu on Sunday, as the number of cases in Asia-Pacific's worst-hit nation soared to 5,298.

http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=114221


# 10 NSW man died with swine flu

Australian Associated Press

We are waiting on formal findings from the coroner to determine the degree to which H1N1 may have contributed to the death.

Health authorities say a 45-year-old man with underlying medical conditions who died in a western Sydney hospital on Monday tested positive for swine flu.

http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=113695

 

[Chuck]

Tasmania's first swine flu death

Tasmania's first swine flu death

http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2009/07/07/82991_tasmania-news.html


Tasmania's first swine flu death

DAVID KILLICK

July 07, 2009 10:55am

BREAKING NEWS: TASMANIA has recorded its first death from swine flu, health authorities said today.

An 85-year-old woman died in the Royal Hobart Hospital yesterday after being admitted on Sunday.

The woman, from the state's south, had a chronic underlying lung condition.

The death is the 13th Australian fatality caused by the disease.

On Thursday last week a a three-year-old Victorian boy was the first child with the disease to die.

The H1N1 human influenza A strain is mild in most patients, but can be deadly for those with underlying health problems.

Australia has had more than 3000 confirmed cases of swine flu.

During the current worldwide pandemic there have been about 95,000 cases worldwide and 430 deaths, the World Health Organisation said.

 

[Chuck]

Re: Tasmania's first swine flu death

Re: Tasmania's first swine flu death

http://www.examiner.com.au/news/loc...ce39-is-australia39s-13th-victim/1561592.aspx

More deaths likely, flu experts warn - Tasmanian woman `of great style, elegance' is Australia's 13th victim
BY PETER WELS AND KATE CLIFFORD
8/07/2009 12:00:00 AM

HEALTH authorities are warning that more swine flu-related deaths in Tasmania are likely, after the death of a Southern Tasmanian woman at the Royal Hobart Hospital this week.

Eileen Johnson, 85, a dedicated and passionate music teacher, was admitted to the Royal Hobart Hospital on Sunday but died on Monday.

It was the 13th death in Australia to involve the H1N1 virus.

"Realistically, what we're seeing internationally and in Australia is that we may have more deaths in Tasmania over the next few weeks," acting Director of Public Health Dr Chrissie Pickin said yesterday.

Ms Johnson, who was also suffering from a chronic lung condition, was described by family members as a woman of great style, elegance and sophistication.

"Her home was always filled with music, the most amazing music from famous concert pianists, to very talented students and artists," a family spokeswoman said.

"She was much loved and will be greatly missed."

Dr Pickin said Ms Johnson was not living in a nursing home.

"Given her age and her underlying condition, any form of influenza could have been serious in her case, " she said.

Dr Pickin said to date, 118 people had been diagnosed as carrying swine flu. "That only really indicates the tip of the iceberg," she said. "We're not able to say at this stage how big that iceberg is."

She said authorities would soon be looking for GP clinics to take part in random sampling programs, to try to get an indication of how many people had H1N1.

"We're looking for up to six GP surgeries to be involved," she said.

"What happens on a particular day, a week or whatever we ask them to definitely swab everyone with influenza-like illnesses.

"There will be many hundreds of people who have had H1N1 influenza in Tasmania to date and there'll be many thousands more who get it."

Health Minister Lara Giddings urged people to remain calm.

"It's important to remember how we can stop the spread of this influenza virus and to know that it's not a virus that we need to panic about," she said.

The influenza hotline is 1800 358 362.

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Australia - swine flu deaths - 18

Re: Australia - swine flu deaths - 18

Swine flu claims almost 20 lives

8th July 2009, 14:15 WST

At least 18 people with swine flu have now died in Australia, including four more Victorians and a 27-year-old man who became the third person to die with the disease in NSW.

The number of confirmed cases of the disease has risen to 6767, according to WA's Department of Health.

WA has 362 cases of swine flu, ACT has 280, NSW has 1572, Northern Territory has 392, Queensland has 1479, SA 686, Tas 120, and Victoria has 1876.

Victoria's deputy chief health officer, Dr Rosemary Lester, said the most recent death was a 68-year-old man who died in a Melbourne hospital.

The other three died after being admitted to hospital with flu-like symptoms.

Dr Lester said the department did not have permission from families to release details on the three earlier deaths.

"All four had underlying health conditions which made them more susceptible to illness, Dr Lester said.

The State has had 11 deaths associated with human swine flu, the statement said.

NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant confirmed the man, who was suffering multiple underlying medical conditions, died on July 4 at John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle with H1N1 influenza.

She said the presence of the virus infection in the patient was confirmed yesterday.

“Because of underlying medical conditions, the man was at greater risk of severe illness from H1N1 influenza 09,” Dr Chant said.

A 57-year-old was diagnosed with the virus on Friday and died on the same day at Westmead Hospital, in Sydney’s west.

Last week, a 45-year-old man, who also had other medical problems, died in Nepean Hospital after testing positive for swine flu.

There are currently 127 people in hospital around Australia with swine flu and 37 are in intensive care.

There are 59 patients in hospital in Victoria, 23 in the Northern Territory, 22 in NSW, 12 in

Queensland, 8 in South Australia, and 3 in ACT.

More than 700 people have been hospitalised with the virus since it was identified.

http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuId=28&ContentID=153652

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Australia - swine flu deaths - 18

Re: Australia - swine flu deaths - 18

Four Victorians with H1N1 symptoms die


July 8, 2009 - 4:24PM

Four more Victorians with swine flu have died, Victoria's health department says.

The state's deputy chief health officer, Dr Rosemary Lester, said the Department of Human Services had been told of the deaths over the past few days.

Three died after being admitted to hospital with flu-like symptoms, a statement from Dr Lester said.

The most recent death was a 68-year-old man who died in a Melbourne hospital.

Dr Lester said the department did not have permission from families to release details on the three earlier deaths.

"All four had underlying health conditions which made them more susceptible to illness, Dr Lester said.

The state has had 11 deaths associated with human swine flu, the statement said.

At least 18 people with swine flu have now died throughout Australia.

"It is important to remember that in the vast majority of cases, human swine flu is a mild illness which many people recover from without any medical treatment," Dr Lester said.

"However, as we have consistently stated, influenza can be severe for people with chronic medical conditions."

Dr Lester said 1,876 cases of human swine flu had been diagnosed as a result of laboratory testing in Victoria.

But milder cases in the community had not been tested and many of those people affected took normal advice for the mild winter flu and recovered at home, she said.

Adults and children with health conditions such as respiratory disease, including asthma, heart disease, diabetes, renal disease, obesity and immunosuppression should see their doctor if they develop respiratory symptoms, Dr Lester said.

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-new...ans-with-h1n1-symptoms-die-20090708-dd39.html

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: Australia - swine flu deaths - 18

Re: Australia - swine flu deaths - 18

NSW records 4th swine flu-related death

A fourth person with swine flu has died in New South Wales, taking the national toll to 21.
New South Wales Health says the 61-year-old woman had underlying health problems when she died in Lismore Base Hospital on Saturday.
The department says two men with a flu-like illness have also died in Sydney after a flu-like illness but tests are yet to confirm whether they had swine flu.
New South Wales Health says the virus accounts for about two-thirds of the state's flu cases.


http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/13/2624406.htm

 

[JimO]

Another Death in Australia?

Another Death in Australia?

Source: http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1049862/Fourth-swine-flu-patient-dies-in-NSW

I'm not sure if this is number 22 or not. The article states that the total is 21.

Fourth swine flu patient dies in NSW

14 July 2009 | 08:38:36 AM | Source: AAP

A 61-year-old woman has become the fourth person with swine flu to die in NSW.

Health authorities are also working to determine whether there's any link between the virus and two other recent deaths at a Sydney hospital.

The woman, who had underlying medical conditions, died at Lismore Base Hospital on Saturday with subsequent tests confirming she had H1N1 influenza, NSW Health said.

Since the woman's death, two more people with suspected swine flu have died in NSW.

"Two people have died following influenza-like illness in Royal North Shore Hospital, however H1N1 has not been identified in the patients at this stage and tests are still pending," NSW Health said in a statement on Monday.

"These are two unrelated men, aged in their 30s and 40s, who were being treated for other conditions in intensive care.

"These two patients have been referred to the coroner."

The Lismore death comes after the death of a 27-year-old man on July 4.

He was reported to have been suffering multiple "underlying medical conditions" along with swine flu and died at John Hunter Hospital at Newcastle.

One day earlier a 57-year old was diagnosed with the virus and died the same day at Westmead Hospital in Sydney's west.

A 45-year-old man was the first person to die after testing positive to the swine flu.

Since the epidemic began in NSW, some 346 people have been admitted to hospital, with 50 of these requiring admissions to intensive care units, NSW Health said.

In Australia, 21 people with confirmed swine flu have died, with 2,029 people testing positive to the virus in NSW.

People with underlying medical conditions who develop severe flu-like symptoms are encouraged to seek medical attention.

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Australia - swine flu deaths - 21

Re: Australia - swine flu deaths - 21

Swine flu: fifth person dies in NSW

July 14, 2009 -

A fifth person in NSW with swine flu has died and 32 others are in intensive care.

A 55-year-old man with underlying medical conditions who died in St George Hospital in southern Sydney on Saturday had tested positive to the disease, NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant said today.

"This morning 32 people with confirmed H1N1 were reported to be receiving intensive care," Dr Chant said in a statement.

Since the epidemic began in NSW, 382 people had been admitted to hospital with swine flu, she said.

Pregnant women, the very overweight and people with underlying health conditions such as diabetes or lung, heart or kidney disease should consult their doctors if they developed a flu-like illness, Dr Chant said.

"For the majority of people, influenza is a mild illness which can be managed at home," she said. "However, seasonal flu and H1N1 influenza 09 [swine flu] can occasionally result in severe disease, even in people who have been previously well."

Dr Chant said 2195 people had now tested positive for swine flu. But this was only a small proportion of those infected because testing was no longer routinely recommended except for patients in hospital.

http://www.smh.com.au/national/swine-flu-fifth-person-dies-in-nsw-20090714-djq3.html

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Australia - swine flu deaths - 29

Re: Australia - swine flu deaths - 29

Five more swine flu deaths in NSW


Ten people with the virus have now died in NSW.


The number of people with swine flu to have died in New South Wales has doubled to 10, taking the national toll to 29.

The victims include a nine-year-old boy and a man in his 20s whose death is a mystery.

Tests have confirmed another four people had swine flu when they died in recent days.

The state's chief medical officer, Dr Kerry Chant, says all of them had underlying health problems, including a nine-year-old boy from Sydney.

"The child presented to the hospital with influenza but the child had a number of very significant pre-existing illnesses," Dr Chant said.

She says the death is not surprising.

"From the beginning of this outbreak it has been young children who are common in the figures," she said,

"The experience in the US has mirrored the experience in Australia, whereby young people are an age group which has been particularly impacted."

A coroner has also confirmed the Sydney man in his 20s had the virus when he died weeks ago, but it is not clear whether it was the cause of death.

If so, he would be the first Australian killed by swine flu alone.

Pregnant women are at higher risk of complications from the virus and six are in intensive care with swine flu.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/16/2627935.htm

 

[kiwibird]

Re: Australia - swine flu deaths - 31

Re: Australia - swine flu deaths - 31

Australia?s Swine Flu Deaths Reach 31, Officials Say (Update1)
Share | Email | Print | A A A

By Phoebe Sedgman

July 17 (Bloomberg) -- Australian health authorities say two Victorians have died after contracting swine flu, bringing the country?s tally to 31 deaths related to the virus.

Five people in New South Wales state with the H1N1 influenza virus died in recent days, Kerry Chant, the state?s chief health officer, said in a statement. Four of the victims had underlying health problems, making them susceptible to swine flu, she added.

The victims, including a 9-year-old boy, two men aged 29 and 78, and two women aged 55 and 71, were all from Sydney, a state health department spokeswoman said.

The deaths doubled New South Wales?s tally of swine flu- related deaths to 10, and the state has 2,673 confirmed cases of the virus, Chant said.

Three A-League soccer players were yesterday confirmed with having swine flu, the league said on its Web site.

Former Ghana international striker Lloyd Owusu has been in isolation from his Adelaide United teammates since July 12, while defender Robert Cornthwaite also tested positive to swine flu. Gold Coast United put four other players into quarantine as a ?precaution? after forward Tahj Minniecon tested positive to the illness.

Australia?s national swine flu tally stands at 11,962 confirmed cases with 75 in intensive care units around the country, according to figures issued by the Department of Health and Ageing.

To contact the reporter for this story: Phoebe Sedgman at psedgman@bloomberg.net.
Last Updated: July 17, 2009 01:34 EDT
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601081&sid=aV27wUQr8gE8

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Australia - swine flu deaths - 32

Re: Australia - swine flu deaths - 32

Third man dies in NT from swine flu

July 19, 2009 -

A third man has died in the Northern Territory after contracting swine flu.

The middle-aged Katherine man had a number of long standing, serious medical conditions, as well as influenza A(H1N1), Northern Territory Department of Health and Families spokesman Robin Osborne told AAP.

The man died at Royal Darwin Hospital on Sunday morning.

Since Friday evening, 101 new cases of H1N1 influenza have been recorded in the Northern Territory, Mr Osborne said.

The total number of confirmed swine flu cases in the Northern Territory to 963, NT health said.

The Australian total is 12,048, the federal health department said.

The death takes the number of Australians with swine flu who have died to 32.

Earlier on Sunday, federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon said 194 people remained in hospital with the disease, more than a third of whom were in intensive care.

She said she expected the outbreak to persist for months to come but believed the worst was almost over.

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/third-man-dies-in-nt-from-swine-flu-20090719-dpi5.html

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Australia - swine flu deaths - 32

Re: Australia - swine flu deaths - 32

This was the second from the NT to die:

http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2009/07/15/66741_ntnews.html

Second NT death related to swine flu

NICK CALACOURAS

July 15th, 2009

A SECOND Territorian has died after contracting swine flu but health authorities claim the man was cleared of the virus before his death.

The Department of Health confirmed in a statement last night that a middle-aged man died in Alice Springs Hospital on Sunday.

The man was suffering from "a number of serious medical conditions" before he died.

The patient had been admitted to hospital last month and later tested positive for human swine flu.

He was given a full course of Tamiflu antiviral medication, which was completed on July 4.

"Follow-up pathology testing indicated he had been cleared of the H1N1 virus," the statement said.

The Department said that the man was cured of swine flu but later died after "his underlying medical condition deteriorated".

The Department last night confirmed that 53 new cases of swine flu had been discovered in the last 24 hours.

These included 24 patients in Darwin and 11 in Katherine.

Prominent Darwin lawyer Ian Morris last week became the first Territorian to die with the disease.

 

[kezza01]

Re: Australia - swine flu deaths - 32

Re: Australia - swine flu deaths - 32

the official number of deaths in australia now is 37 - not counting the young baby that died in north queensland which is attributed to swine flu:

health emergency update bulletins

the figures are starting to get more confusing with varying reports between the media and official sources.....

 

[kiwibird]

Re: Australia - swine flu deaths - 32

Re: Australia - swine flu deaths - 32

July 29, 2009 12:00pm

A 22-YEAR-OLD man with swine flu has become the third West Australian to die with the virus in just over a month.

The man, who had an underlying medical condition, died in Fremantle Hospital yesterday.

Both other WA swine flu-related fatalities involved people also aged in their twenties.

A 26-year-old man from the remote Goldfields? Aboriginal community of Kiwirrkurra died on June 19 in Royal Adelaide Hospital and a Perth woman of the same age died on June 26 in Royal Perth Hospital.

WA Chief Health Officer Dr Tarun Weeramanthri extended his sympathies to the man?s family and said no further personal details would be released at their request.

More infections were thought to be circulating in the community as testing was no longer routinely recommended for patients experiencing mild symptoms.

Dr Weeramanthri cautioned that those in vulnerable groups were at higher risk of suffering complications, even though human swine flu remained a mild illness for most people.

?We are now focusing our attention on those in the community who may be at risk of severe illness and targeting people with underlying conditions for testing, treatment and care,? he said.

This may include pregnant women and people with underlying conditions including:
? respiratory disease such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
? heart disease
? diabetes
? renal disease
? morbid obesity
? weakened immune systems

?These people are urged to seek medical attention if they have acute respiratory symptoms,? Dr Weeramanthri said.

For more information on swine flu visit the Department of Health website www.health.wa.gov.au or call the national swine flu hotline 180 2007.

If you think you have swine flu telephone your doctor or phone healthdirect Australia on 1800 022 222.
http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,27574,25852556-2761,00.html

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Australia - swine flu deaths - 53

Source: http://news.brisbanetimes.com.au/br...urelated-death-toll-now-22-20090731-e48k.html

NSW swine flu-related death toll now 22
July 31, 2009 - 5:14PM

An elderly woman is the latest person with swine flu to die in NSW, taking the state's virus-related toll to 22, authorities say.

The woman, aged in her 70s, tested positive for H1N1 influenza but also suffered "underlying medical conditions", a NSW Health statement said.

The news follows Wednesday's confirmation that two men and two women with swine flu, all aged between 57 and 71, had died. All had underlying medical conditions.

While the number of deaths continues to climb, NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said the number of people attending hospital emergency departments with flu-like symptoms has dropped 36 per cent from the previous week. However, the rate of presentations is still twice as high as previous seasonal peaks.

"In NSW, 781 people presented to emergency departments with influenza-like illness in the latest seven-day count, compared to 1,229 for the previous week," Dr Chant said in a statement.

"Overall admissions to hospitals from emergency departments with a diagnosis of influenza-like illness have also declined across all ages, with 67 patients admitted in the latest count, compared with 83 the previous week.

"This is definitely good news, however, with the return of children to school this week, a further rise in cases cannot be ruled out," Dr Chant said.

More than 4,000 people in NSW have now tested positive to the H1N1 virus, however the actual number of sufferers is expected to be higher, with testing no longer recommended.

Across the state, 43 confirmed sufferers are receiving intensive care treatment in hospital.

? 2009 AAP

 

[kiwibird]

Re: Australia - swine flu deaths - 53

http://www.examiner.com.au/news/loc...urth-swine-flu-death/1583857.aspx?storypage=0
Girl, 11, is state's fourth swine flu death
31/07/2009 5:54:00 PM
AN 11-year-old North-West girl is Tasmania's fourth swine flu victim after being found to have had the HINI Influenza virus.

The Acting Director of Public Health, Dr Chrissie Pickin, said subsequent testing had identified the HINI virus in the girl who died suddenly last week.

Dr Pickin said that while initial testing for Influenza A and HINI had returned negative results, a tissue sample sent to Melbourne for laboratory testing had revealed the girl was in fact suffering from HINI at the time of death.

"I understand that this girl did have a syndrome which may have made her more susceptible to severe disease."

She said the girl was admitted to a local hospital before her death and her treatment had been appropriate to her presenting symptoms.

"However to respect the family's privacy and because the case is before the coroner it would not be appropriate to discuss the case further at the moment," Dr Pickin said.

The head of the Royal Hobart Hospitals testing laboratory, Lou Cooley, said that while laboratory testing for viruses such as HINI is accurate in most occasions, there is emerging evidence of situations where the currently available testing is not sensitive enough to detect the virus.

"The initial swab taken on admission to hospital returned a negative result for Influenza A.

"Tests of swabs collected a week later showed a faint positive result for Influenza A, but negative for HINI.

"Only after a tissue sample was tested in Victoria was the virus identified. We are aware that a test may be negative in the early stages of the infection."

Ms Cooley said negative tests on swabs from patients with severe HINI pneumonia requiring intensive care admission had also been reported.

A 38-year-old Northern Midlands woman died of swine flu earlier this week in Launceston General Hospital, a 77-year-old North-West woman died on July 22 and Tasmania's first swine flu victim was a an 85-year-old Hobart woman who died on July 6.

Dr Pickin she would like to remind the Tasmanian community that this is a new disease which health authorities are still learning about.

The message remains the same:

* If you are in a high risk group and develop flu like symptoms seek medical attention urgently.

* Protect others through covering your cough, washing your hands regularly, standing away from others and staying at home if you are ill.

The Health Department this week reopened swine flu clinics in Burnie and Latrobe and a clinic at the Launceston General Hospital will open on Wednesday.

Those suffering flu-like symptoms, a fever with a cough and-or sore throat, are urged to call 1800 FLU-DOC or 1800 358 362 before presenting at a flu clinic.