FLU MUM CRITICAL; Woman in hospital as 11th patient dies.

Byline: DAVID YOUNG; COLM DONNELLY

A YOUNG woman is battling for her life with swine flu after being admitted to hospital early to deliver her baby.

It is understood the woman is in intensive care at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast though the Belfast Health Trust has refused to confirm details of the case. The news emerged as it was revealed yesterday swine flu has claimed another life in Northern Ireland.

The adult patient - the 11th with the virus to die in the region - had underlying problems, Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said.

Despite the fatality earlier this week, the latest official data suggests local swine flu activity is falling. The number of laboratory confirmed cases has dropped from 215 last week to 153 this, while GP appointments have decreased by almost 10%.

While 87 individuals were hospitalised last week, the number admitted in the past seven days was only 50.

Furthermore, anti-viral prescriptions have halved in the same period, from 2,837 to 1,374. Mr McGimpsey said: "I would like to express my sincere sympathy to the family of this patient.

"We should all now respect their privacy and allow them to grieve in peace for their loved one.

"A further decrease in consultation rates in the past week is encouraging and suggests that our preparations are working. However, swine flu still continues to circulate widely in the community and it is vital that we do not become complacent."

Presenting the weekly swine flu bulletin, Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride said while the figures were encouraging they did not mean that the pandemic was over.

He added: "It would be premature to say that we have reached a peak in this wave. However the indicators this week are encouraging."

153 Confirmed cases of swine flu this week

215 The number from the previous week