Six new swine flu-related deaths

The six further deaths have been confirmed in the last week

Six more people from Wales have died of swine flu-related deaths, it has been confirmed, bringing the total to 14.

Health Minister Edwina Hart said the nation was "well into the second wave" of the pandemic and there were likely to be more deaths.

There has also been a swine flu-related death of a person from Wales abroad, no further details of which are to be released by health officials.

Earlier this week, the cases were said to be levelling off or dropping.

Ms Hart said: "As the number of cases rise, we are likely to see more people experiencing severe complications, admission to critical care facilities and more deaths.

"There have now been 14 deaths in Wales. This will continue to increase over time."

She said the latest rates for flu-like illness in Wales showed a "slight increase" in the rate of GP consultations and levels of flu-like illness remain higher than usual for the time of year.

Ms Hart said although the planning assumptions had recently been revised downwards, swine flu still posed a serious threat and was affecting groups such as young children and pregnant women who are not usually particularly at risk with seasonal flu.

Latest figures from the Welsh Assembly Government show on 11 November there were 71 clinically diagnosed patients in hospital in connection with swine flu, with 20 in critical care and 34 with underlying health conditions.