Swine flu deaths see health agency urge diabetics to take flu jab

Swine flu is back on the agenda this winter with swine flu related deaths in the UK having hit double figures within the last six weeks.
Whilst influenza tends not to be life threatening for most healthy people, it can be more serious for people within higher risk groups such as those with diabetes, heart disease, elderly people and pregnant women. Of the recent deaths, a small number were declared as being healthy until contracting the flu virus .
The seriousness of flu is put into three types (A, B and C) with strain A being the most serious and C being a milder illness similar to a common cold. Swine flu falls into the A strain category as it can be potentially fatal.
The Health Protection Agency is urging those in higher risk groups to book themselves in to receive the seasonal flu jab, which includes immunisation against the H1N1 swine flu virus as well other seasonal strains. Diabetic patients are amongst the groups who are entitled to get the flu jab free from the NHS .