Double tragedy as premature son of swine flu fatality dies

THE grieving family of the first swine flu victim to die in Britain was coming to terms with a double tragedy yesterday after the death of her premature son.

Jacqueline Fleming, 38, of Glasgow, died in hospital on Sunday, two weeks after giving birth prematurely.

Her baby, named Jack, died in hospital in Paisley, Renfrewshire, on Monday evening.

A NHS Greater Glasgow spokesman said the baby did not die from swine flu.

Health officials said a further 141 cases of swine flu were confirmed in England yesterday.

One patient was also confirmed in Northern Ireland.

The Health Protection Agency said the cases in England included 124 in the West Midlands, where 512 people have now been affected with the virus.

There were 71 new clinically diagnosed cases in Scotland on Monday, producing an overall British total of 1,533.

A statement issued on behalf of Fleming’s partner William McCann, said: “My beautiful son was born on June 1, 2009, 11 weeks early.

“He suffered from a number of complications and despite his brave fight he passed away at the Special Care Baby Unit at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley.

“Coming so soon after the death of his mum, this is an extremely distressing and difficult time for our family and I would ask the media to respect our privacy as we try to cope with the loss of Jacqueline and Jack.”

Jacqueline Fleming lived with her two other children – one aged 18 and one of primary school age – and her long-term partner in the family home in Carnwadric, Glasgow.

Her family said in a statement: “Our whole family is absolutely devastated.”

The mother, who was in intensive care at the Royal Alexandra, was one of 10 being treated in hospital in Scotland.

It is the first death to be reported outside the Americas where at least 145 people have died from swine flu.

Professor Hugh Pennington, a bacteriologist at Aberdeen University, said the first swine flu death was not unexpected.

He said: “It does not point to the virus getting nastier. All the evidence to date suggests the virus is not changing at all.”

The New West End Company, which represents businesses in London’s Oxford Street, denied reports that a member of staff at Topshop’s store there has contracted the virus.