Swine flu death in West Midlands

A second person from the West Midlands has died after contracting swine flu.

It is not known whether they had other health problems and a post-mortem examination is being held to establish whether the virus was a factor.

West Midlands Strategic Health Authority has not yet released any further details about the death, but said the cause was being investigated.

It follows the death of Sameerah Ahmad, six, from Birmingham, the region's first swine flu fatality.

She was born with a rare genetic disorder affecting the small intestine but had been infected with the H1N1 virus when she died, a coroner confirmed.

Her father Imran Ahmad, from Edgbaston, has said his daughter had "been through a lot" with health problems.

Flu service

Commenting on the second fatality, Dr Rashmi Shukla, director of public health for the West Midlands, said: "At this point in time we don't know whether swine flu was a major cause of death or one of other contributory causes."

Twenty nine UK deaths have now been recorded, the government has said.

More than 55,000 new swine flu cases were reported last week and the government has announced that the National Flu Service will go live next week to relieve pressure on hospitals and GPs.

It has also warned that deaths this winter could be between 19,000 and 65,000 in the UK, although experts say it is impossible to predict exactly.