Newbury woman tests positive for swine flu

Police confirm that a 23-year-old woman who recently died has tested positive for swine flu

A WOMAN who was recently found dead in a Newbury flat has tested positive for swine flu, it has been confirmed.

The body of 23-year-old Tracy Southall was found in a flat in Thornycroft Close on Wednesday, December 29 and this week, police have confirmed that she tested positive for swine flu, although they say more tests were still needed to establish the cause of death.

However, no public health action may be taken, according to the Health Protection Agency (HPA).

A spokeswoman for the HPA, Teresa Cash, said the agency would not discuss individual cases, although she added that individual cases may not be investigated by the agency when a death is related to a virus or influenza currently in circulation and “at large in the community.”

She said: “We would repeat the warning that people in ‘at risk' groups must get vaccinated.”

Meanwhile, following last week's shortage of flu vaccines in West Berkshire, local surgeries say they are now able to cope with demand from patients in ‘at risk' groups that could catch the virus.

For more on this story, pick up a copy of this week's Newbury Weekly News.