Health News
Swine flu could kill 6,000 Australians, minister says
Jul 16, 2009, 1:04 GMT
Sydney - Around 6,000 Australians could die from a swine-flu outbreak, under a worst-case scenario revealed Thursday by Health Minister Nicola Roxon.
Roxon disputed predictions of 10,000 deaths, calling it a 'ludicrous' projection because it assumed no medical intervention for those who contracted the H1N1 virus.
'We could expect around 6,000 deaths across the country,' Roxon said. 'That's really the worst-case scenario.'
The death toll has reached 23 people, and 58 patients with the virus are hospitalized in intensive care.
Most of those who died had serious pre-existing medical conditions like cancer or cardiovascular diseases.
Roxon has ordered 21 million doses of the anti-viral medicine Tamiflu - one for every Australian.
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