A third person in the Netherlands has died after being infected with a mutant variant of the A(H1N1) flu.

The National Institute for Public Health (RIVM) reports that the woman from Kaatsheuvel in the south of the country was suffering from additional ailments. The earlier two casualties were also in poor health, which had weakened their immune systems. Under such conditions the virus has more time to mutate and the Tamiflu medication loses its effectiveness.

The original, un-mutated variant of A(H1N1) has taken 42 lives since the flu began to spread in the Netherlands in April. The National Institute for Public Health has classed the epidemic as "mild and dropping in intensity".

The Amphia hospital in the southern city of Breda is ignoring the advice of the Dutch Health Council to inoculate its staff against the fever twice. The hospital has said European research shows that healthy adults are sufficiently protected after a single injection with the vaccine. Staff who insist on a second jab, however, will be given one, the Amphia added.

The National Institute of Public Health agrees that hospitals are free to take their own decisions, but regrets the confusion that may be caused. The RIVM emphasises that the two-jab rule continues to apply to children and people with health problems who have been called up by their family doctor.

The influenza virus (Wikipedia)