Qld swine flu cases jump 400 in 2 days

(AAP) The number of people diagnosed with swine flu in Queensland has jumped by more than 400 in just two days.

Queensland Health on Sunday confirmed that 2,026 cases of H1N1 have been confirmed
in the state since the outbreak began in April.
Although Queensland is yet to record a death from the illness, Health Minister and
Deputy Premier Paul Lucas has warned it is only a matter of time.
"Swine flu in most cases is relatively mild compared to some other flu cases.
However people have died already in Australia. More will and in Queensland we'll see
deaths in due course," Mr Lucas told reporters in Brisbane on Friday.
A normal flu season takes 1,000 to 3,000 lives each year, depending on which viruses
are circulating.
Queensland chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young said Queensland Health expected
"quite large numbers" of deaths once the H1N1 strain spreads in the community.
"The worst is yet to come," Dr Young said.
Authorities are urging parents to keep sick children at home, as classes resume
after school holidays.
In Queensland, 18 confirmed cases remain in hospital, five of those are in intensive
care.
So far, according to a federal Department of Health and Aging statement, 18 people
have died from swine flu; 11 in Victoria, one in Western Australia, one in South
Australia, one in Northern Territory, one in Tasmania and three in New South Wales.
At midday on Sunday, Australia has 8,337 confirmed cases of swine flu, an increase
of 48 cases since noon on Saturday, the department statement said.