# 4085
While the numbers are most certainly undercounts, and some of the increase in this week’s fatalities may be due to better surveillance and reporting, both France and the UK are reporting major jumps in their flu-related fatalities over the past week.
France saw an increase in the official death toll from 46 to 68, nearly a 50% jump. The UK meanwhile saw their deadliest week with 31 fatalities, a one week surge of roughly 15%.
As in the US, official (lab-confirmed) deaths from this virus around the world likely represent just `the tip of the iceberg’.
Two reports.
Sharp Increase in Swine Flu Deaths in France
November 26, 2009
PARIS (Reuters) - The number of deaths in mainland France from the H1N1 swine flu virus jumped in the last week, according to official data on Thursday.
The toll rose to 68 deaths as of November 22, with 22 new deaths last week. Six of the 68 victims had no underlying health problems, the country's health monitoring institute said. Health minister Roselyne Bachelot said 750,000 people had already been vaccinated but admitted that many vaccination centers were facing long waiting lines.
Swine flu: last seven days sees record number of UK deaths
Thirty-one deaths is highest weekly number since outbreak began, although number of infections falls for third week in a row
More people have died from swine flu in the past seven days than in any week since the outbreak began, the Department of Health revealed today.
Thirty-one deaths associated with the H1N1 virus were recorded bringing the total number of fatalities since May to 245. The estimate for new cases in England fell slightly again to 46,000 – the third successive week it has declined.
The unusual pattern of fewer infections but more deaths suggests a second major peak in cases is unlikely to be imminent. Around a million patients – and more health workers – have already been vaccinated against the virus.
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