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Girl who contracted swine flu dies
30.06.09
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A schoolgirl with underlying health problems has died after contracting swine flu.
The youngster, believed to have been a pupil at Mayfield, a specialist school in Birmingham which caters for children with learning difficulties, died at the city's children's hospital within the past few days, health chiefs said.
It is not yet known if swine flu contributed to her death.
Dr Helen Carter, public health consultant at NHS West Midlands, said: "Our thoughts are with the family of the patient at this very sad time."
A spokesman for NHS West Midlands said the child had "other serious underlying health conditions" and tested positive for swine flu following her death.
Health Secretary Andy Burnham said: "I would like to express my condolences to the patient's family at this very difficult time. This is a tragedy for those concerned and they have my heartfelt sympathy.
"I would reiterate that the risk to the general public remains low and we can all play our part in slowing the spread of the virus by following simple hygiene procedures - like washing your hands and using tissues when coughing or sneezing.
"We continue to monitor the situation very closely, making sure arrangements are in place so that the UK remains well-placed to deal with this pandemic."
A spokesman for Birmingham Children's Hospital clarified on Monday night that the girl was not nine, contrary to some reports.
The West Midlands has been declared a hotspot for the disease, with 2,104 confirmed cases so far, more than a third of the UK's total and more than two-fifths of all the cases in England.
