Flu deaths must be kept 'in perspective', says top medic

Doctors have reported an increase in interest in the flu jab following media coverage of an outbreak and this has been followed this week with reports of doctors running out.

By the end of last week, 39 people had died and more than 700 were in critical care.

Old vaccines left over from the swine flu pandemic will be used to plug the shortfall in this winter's supplies.

But Interim Chief Medical Officer Dame Sally Davies told the BBC it was important to keep the outbreak in perspective.

She said: "These sad deaths are not a high number for a winter."