England: Ten more deaths linked to flu in a week

Ten more people have died in the last week after contracting flu bringing the total this winter to 27, it has been revealed.

The H1N1 swine flu strain is responsible for the majority of the deaths as cases of influenza continue to rise.

It is feared cases of flu and deaths are accelerating as the flu season takes hold.

The number of people seeing their GP with flu symptoms has increased six fold in the last three weeks.

H1N1 is the predominant strain circulating this winter and is following a similar pattern as during the pandemic when it struck young age groups hardest and caused some severe illness.

Officials do not believe there will be another significant wave of flu as seen during the pandemic but it was expected that H1N1 would become a circulating seasonal flu for this winter and in coming years.