NSW swine flu-related death toll now 22

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.