Severe H1N1 infections spike in B.C.

Three more people with H1N1 swine flu have died in B.C., and the number of serious cases nearly doubled over the past week, officials with the B.C. Centre for Disease Control report in the weekly swine flu update.

The three deaths bring the total numberof deaths linked to the diseasein the province to 15, but in all but one of those cases,the patients had underlying medical conditions, health officials confirmed on Tuesday

Officials also released new totals for the number of severe cases H1N1 identified in B.C, showing the number of serious infections has spiked dramatically since Oct. 27.

The figures showed:

• There has been a total of 361 severe cases across the province, with 162 of those cases identified in the past week.
• A dozen new cases have been admitted to intensive care units in the past week, bring that total to 63 people.
• The Fraser Health region accounted for 166 cases, including nine deaths.
• Cases in the Vancouver Coastal Health region reached 110 cases,including two deaths.
• The Interior Health region saw 48 cases, including three deaths.
• Vancouver Island reported23 cases, including one death.
• The Northern Health region had 14 cases.

Health officials began vaccinating high-risk groups across B.C. last week, but say a shortage in the supply of the vaccine may last into December.