Girl, six, dies from swine flu at St Mary's

Sanchez Manning A SIX-YEAR-OLD girl from north west London has died at St Mary s Hospital – taking the number of swine-flu related deaths in the UK to 16. Chloe Buckley, of West Drayton, died at the hospital in Paddington on Thursday. A post-mortem exami

Sanchez Manning

A SIX-YEAR-OLD girl from north west London has died at St Mary's Hospital - taking the number of swine-flu related deaths in the UK to 16.

Chloe Buckley, of West Drayton, died at the hospital in Paddington on Thursday.

A post-mortem examination is due to be held to see if she had any underlying health problems.

Dr Simon Tanner, NHS London's regional director of public health, said: "We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the family at this difficult time as they come to terms with their loss."

He said Chloe had contracted the virus in the UK and added her death "will probably not be the last that we have in this pandemic".

Her death brings the number of swine flu-related deaths in London to six but doctors are urging members of the public not to panic about the epidemic.

Dr Laurence Buckman, Chairman of the BMA's GPs Committee and a Golders Green based doctor, commented in reaction to Chloe's death and the death of a Luton GP Dr Michael Day from swine flu.

"Our first thoughts are for all the victims of swine flu," he said.

"While these individual deaths are tragedies for the families concerned it is very important that members of the public do not panic, and continue to follow health advice about swine flu and managing it if they are infected.

"We must remember that every year there are deaths from complications of seasonal flu; this is unfortunately inevitable with any strain of influenza.