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http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/s...ine-flu-death-toll-reaches-45-86908-21852689/
TWO more swine flu patients have died, taking the total number of deaths linked to the virus to 45, it has emerged.
An elderly person and another younger adult, both from the Lanarkshire area, have died.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: "My heart goes out to both people's families and friends. This is very sad and our thoughts are with them."
The deaths were announced as figures showed an estimated 21,100 people had caught swine flu in the past week, a fall of about 1% from the previous seven days.
The number of people consulting their GP for flu-like illnesses increased slightly to 119.9 per 100,000.
And the number of community samples that tested positive for the H1N1 virus was 44%, similar to last week.
Statistics on the number of people being vaccinated against swine flu were also released for the first time: the uptake so far amongst frontline health workers is 37.9%, while for social care staff it's at 18%.
From the start of the outbreak to November 23, 1,104 people with swine flu were admitted to hospitals across Scotland.
A total of 106 patients with swine flu were in hospital yesterday.
The number of pupils off sick with flu-like illnesses is also higher than normal in an increasing number of schools.
Ms Sturgeon said: "This week's figures, for the third consecutive week, show a slow down with only marginal increases across consultation and swab rates.
"This is not a reason to become complacent, we must continue to do everything we can to protect ourselves and others.
"I'm pleased to see that many staff are protecting themselves against H1N1. Also I trust that all eligible health and social care staff will take up the offer of the vaccine, not only for their own protection but for that of the people they care for.
"We now have over 70% of all the supplies we need to vaccinate the priority groups, and that total is increasing on a weekly basis.
"We remain firmly on track to have offered the vaccine to everybody in the first phase of the priority groups by Christmas
TWO more swine flu patients have died, taking the total number of deaths linked to the virus to 45, it has emerged.
An elderly person and another younger adult, both from the Lanarkshire area, have died.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: "My heart goes out to both people's families and friends. This is very sad and our thoughts are with them."
The deaths were announced as figures showed an estimated 21,100 people had caught swine flu in the past week, a fall of about 1% from the previous seven days.
The number of people consulting their GP for flu-like illnesses increased slightly to 119.9 per 100,000.
And the number of community samples that tested positive for the H1N1 virus was 44%, similar to last week.
Statistics on the number of people being vaccinated against swine flu were also released for the first time: the uptake so far amongst frontline health workers is 37.9%, while for social care staff it's at 18%.
From the start of the outbreak to November 23, 1,104 people with swine flu were admitted to hospitals across Scotland.
A total of 106 patients with swine flu were in hospital yesterday.
The number of pupils off sick with flu-like illnesses is also higher than normal in an increasing number of schools.
Ms Sturgeon said: "This week's figures, for the third consecutive week, show a slow down with only marginal increases across consultation and swab rates.
"This is not a reason to become complacent, we must continue to do everything we can to protect ourselves and others.
"I'm pleased to see that many staff are protecting themselves against H1N1. Also I trust that all eligible health and social care staff will take up the offer of the vaccine, not only for their own protection but for that of the people they care for.
"We now have over 70% of all the supplies we need to vaccinate the priority groups, and that total is increasing on a weekly basis.
"We remain firmly on track to have offered the vaccine to everybody in the first phase of the priority groups by Christmas