Child, 8, NZ's latest swine flu victim

Operations may be postponed as New Zealand's hospitals struggle to cope with serious cases of influenza. Photo / Mark Story

A child is the latest victim of swine flu as New Zealand's death toll has climbed to 11.

There are now a total of 2443 confirmed cases of swine flu, or influenza A (H1N1), up from 2368 yesterday. At midday today, a total of 74 people were in hospital with swine flu or its complications, 26 of them in intensive care, and health officials say the flu season peak is yet to come.

The child died within the past week in the Mid Central District Health Board region, and had underlying medical conditions.

No further details about the victim have been released, at the request of the family.

An eight-year-old girl also died from the virus in Wellington Hospital earlier this month.

New Zealand's health services were still feeling the pressure from both seasonal and non-seasonal influenza this winter, but were coping well, said Health Minister Tony Ryall.

Some hospitals were postponing elective surgery and were at full capacity in their intensive care units but were still on top of things, he said.

"Latest data from ESR's GP sentinel surveillance system shows a sharp spike in the number of consultations for influenza-like illnesses," Mr Ryall said.

"What this surveillance data shows us is that we have not yet reached a peak in the number of people who will experience influenza this year. We anticipate that our health services will continue to be under pressure for some time yet."

Healthline continued to receive a large number of calls from people with influenza-like symptoms, although the volume of calls had dropped in the past week.

There was a continuing sharp increase in consultations for influenza like illnesses through ESR's GP sentinel surveillance system since last week, said deputy director of public health Fran McGrath.

So far, the highest consultation rates have been reported among children and teenagers aged from birth to 19 years.

The highest weekly influenza consultation rates have been reported from South Auckland, Wellington and South Canterbury health districts.

- NZPA