Fed: NSW surpasses Vic with highest swine flu death toll
Wed Jul 22 18:48:19 EST 2009
Health authorities say four men have died in New South Wales over the past two days who've tested positive to swine flu .. with other medical conditions .. taking the state's toll to 17 and the national toll to 41.
It's the first time the death toll in NSW has passed Victoria's .. where 15 people have died since the virus hit Australia.
The state's chief health officer Dr KERRY CHANT says free anti-viral medication is available from GPs for those people with moderate or severe illness .. or those who have underlying conditions and are at a higher risk of developing severe influenza.
Dr CHANT says anyone who's pregnant .. obese .. or who has underlying health conditions like diabetes .. lung .. heart and kidney disease is at higher risk of complications.
There have been three other deaths in the Northern Territory and South Australia .. and one each in Queensland .. Tasmania and Western Australia.
