3:00pm Friday 3rd July 2009
© Press Association and news reporter
A 19-YEAR-OLD man from Lewisham has been confirmed as the first person in London to die after contracting swine flu.
The teenager, who suffered serious underlying health problems, tested positive for the virus following his death on Wednesday. It has been reported that he was in Lewisham Hospital.
Katrina McCormick, NHS Lewisham's joint interim director of public health, said: "This must be a very distressing time for the family, and our thoughts are with them at this sad time.
We will not be releasing any further details about the identity of the patient and we ask that you respect the family’s privacy at this difficult time.
“It is important to remember that, from our local experience, the vast majority of people who have contracted swine flu are experiencing a mild illness and recover quickly."
He is the fourth person with swine flu to die in the UK.
The latest death comes amid warnings that the number of cases could soar to 100,000 a day by the end of next month.
Earlier the Government's Chief Medical Officer warned the public to avoid panic-buying "counterfeit" anti-swine flu drugs online.
Sir Liam Donaldson, who confirmed on Thursday that the UK has moved past the stage of containing the swine flu outbreak and into the "treatment phase", said there was no need for people to resort to the internet to self-medicate amid fears over the spread.
He said Britain had a massive stockpile of Tamiflu and would be one of the first countries to have access to a vaccine, with the first supplies arriving at the end of August.
Sir Liam added he was "surprised" health services had controlled the virus for as long as they had.
The first case in Britain was recorded in April.
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