First Dutch death from swine flu

A 17-year-old boy who was born with a serious illness, has become the first person to die from swine flu in the Netherlands reports the website of public broadcaster Nos on Tuesday afternoon quoting the public health institute RIVM.


The boy, who became affected by the swine flu virus, died on Monday night, says Nos. It dod not gve further details.
Health minister Ab Klink has sent his condolences to the boy’s family. Klink stressed that in the overwhelming majority of cases people only experience a mild form of swine flu.
‘Alas the new influenza A, like normal flu, claims victims in incidental cases. But we are doing all we can to limit that number as much as possible,’ he is quoted by Nos as saying.
The RIVM expects one patient in every 1,000 to die of swine flu but adds that this is almost always someone who is already seriously sick, reports Nos.
Since the outbreak of swine flu in the Netherlands in April nine people have been hospitalised but some of these are now back home says the RIVM.
The institute says around 665 people in Holland have been diagnosed with the virus since April but in reality the number is higher.

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