Children and swine flu warning

Study finds 70 children died from H1N1 in England – ethnic minorities and those with serious medical conditions worst hit.

27th October 2010 – A study of child swine flu deaths co-written by Professor Sir Liam Donaldson, the former chief medical officer for England, recommends that vaccination should be a priority for some ethnic minority children and those with serious medical conditions.

The research found 70 children died from H1N1 flu in England between the end of June last year and March this year. That’s a higher death rate than for childhood leukaemia. Bangladeshi and Pakistani communities had much higher death rates than white British children.

Children who already had serious medical conditions, especially chronic neurological diseases such as cerebral palsy, were also found to be at a greater risk. Sir Liam and a colleague say these high-risk groups should now be a priority for vaccination. Flu prevention tips The most effective way to slow the spread of flu is to avoid passing along germs.

The HPA recommends taking these simple steps:

• Always wash your hands
• Cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing
• Dispose of used tissues promptly
• Clean hard surfaces frequently
• Make sure children follow this advice