B.C. records 5 more H1N1 deaths

Five more people have died from the H1N1 swine flu in B.C. this past week, according to the latest figures released by health authorities, but overall the number of infections appears to be declining.

Provincial health officer Dr. Perry Kendallsaid Monday that the second wave of the flu virus has peaked in B.C., and there may not be a third wave if enough people get immunized.

But the general public in B.C.may have to wait up to three more weeks before there is enough vaccine for everyone to get a shot, Kendall said.

The five new deaths recorded since Nov. 10 amount to a 50 per centdrop from the week before and include:

• Two in the Interior Health region.
• One in the Vancouver Coastal Health region.
• One in the Fraser Health region.
• One in the Vancouver Island Health region.

Two other deaths, one in the Vancouver Coastal Health region and one in the Interior Health region, were added to the total from the previous week, bringing the total for B.C. to 30 since the outbreak began.

Twenty-three of the people who diedhad underlying medical conditions, while four had no underlying conditions, officials said. The investigations into three other cases aren't finished.

The majority of lab-confirmed cases of H1N1 infection in B.C. have been mild or moderate, with the patients either having already recovered or currently recovering, health officials say.

SinceNov. 10, there have been 144 new severe cases in B.C., down from 202 the week before. The recent cases include:

• 49 in the Fraser Health region.
• 42 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region.
• 30 in the Interior Health region.
• 15 in the Vancouver Island Health region.
• Eight in the Northern Health region.