Swine flu rate rises as 34 in hospital

SWINE flu infection rates are on the increase with 34 people hospitalised for treatment of the virus, including five in intensive care since the onset of the annual winter flu season.

Out of a total of 120 confirmed influenza cases notified to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) on December 30, 106 were swine flu.

Eighteen swine flu cases related to women who were either pregnant or who had given birth. Seven of these women were hospitalised with swine flu.